!.;'.t;.-iM,;:;  v^ 


I A  CITY  PLAN 


1907 
THE  CIVIC  LEAGVE 

OF  SAINT  LOVIS. 


GEISEL  LMRARY 

UNIVERSITY  Of  CAUFORNIA,  SAN  D«GO 

LA  XXLA.  CAllfOKNIA 


^llfJUEX^ 


■RELIEr-MAP-  v<->:x^  ■  CITY   or- 

or    THE     ^"^"^ST   LOUIS 


o 


Relief  Map  of  Saint  Louis  City  and  County 


A  City  Plan 

For  saint  LOUIS 


REPORTS  OF  THE  SEVERAL  COMMITTEES 

APPOINTED  BY  THE  EXECUTIVE 

BOARD    OF   THE   CIVIC 

LEAGUE  TO  DRAFT 

A  CITY  PLAN 


7^ISS^ 


laor 


"flbealsi  are  lihcstavB:  von  will  not  5uccccJ> 

in  toucbuui  tbcni  with  ^owt  banC'fs  but  cboo5= 

inci  tbcni  as  vour  gui&es  an^  tollowino  tbem 

vow  will  reacb  \>our  ^e5tin^^" 

—Carl  Schurz. 


Table  of  Contents 


PAGE 

1.  Statement  of  the  Executive  Board 7 

2.  The  Need  of  a  City  Plan  for  St.  Louis 10 

3.  Historical  Sketch— Physical  Growth  of  St.  Louis IS 

4.  A  Public  Buildings  Group 30 

5.  Civic  Centers 37 

6.  An  Inner   and    Outer  Park  System 54 

7.  Street  Improvements 71 

8.  A  Municipal  Art  Commission 88 

9.  Legislation    Necessary   to  Carry    Into    Effect  the    Suggested 

Improvements 95 

Index Ill 


List  of  Maps  and  Illustrations 


PAGE 

1.  Rolii-f -Mai)  nf  St.  Louis,  City  and  County Frontispiece 

•J.  Map  of  St.  Louis,  1704 17 

:i.  .\Lip  oi  St.  Louis,  1804 18n 

4.  City  Limits  in  1822 1.'2 

f).  City  Limits  in  1841 -'.") 

0.  City  Limits  in  18.Vi  and  187(1 27 

7.  Pul)!ic  Buildings,  Group,  Cloveland '.idi( 

8.  Washington  Group  Plan ■H)l> 

!t.  Plan  No.  1  for  St.  Louis 32n 

II).  Place  Vendome,  Paris 32h 

11.  Trafalgar  S(|uaro,  London IWf 

12.  The  ZwingerhotT,   Dresden 'Mb 

K!.  Theater  Place,  Dresden,  and   National  Museum,  Berlin '6-lc 

14.  New  City   Hall M>ri 

1").  Proposed  Municipal  Group,  St.  Louis 'Mh 

1(>.  .\  Chicago  Civic  Center  ....  38 

17.  School  Buildings  in  St.  Louis  ...  40« 

15.  Free  Public  Lecture,  Chicagf) i-'i 

111.  .Mullanphy  Playground    ....  44(i 

20.  Soulard  Civic  Center 46" 

21.  Playground  Scenes  in  St.  Louis 48'i 

22.  Typical  Swimming  Pool oOk 

2:i.  Terminus  of  Kingshighway   .  '>4f( 

24.  The  Kingshighway oQn 

25.  Kingshighway — Forest    Parle 50^ 

2().  Ravine  in  O' Fallon   Park ")8a 

27.  Route  of  Riverside  Drive fiOrf 

2S.  Riverside  Drive,   New  York lil 

2!l.  River  Front  Treatment  in   European  Cities  02" 

30.  Cross  Section,   River  Des  Peres  Valley .  03 

31.  River  Des  Peres  in  Forest  Park 64a 

.32.  Route  of   Des  Peres  Boulevard 56« 

33.  Entrance  to  Yellowstone  National  Park  70 

34.  Map  of  Chicago  Parks 70« 

3.").  .Map  of  District  of  Columbia    .    .  .  70?* 

30.  Map  of  Providence 70c 

37.  The  River  Front   as  It  Is 72« 

38.  The  River  Front  as  It  Should    Be 72h 

39.  Cross  Section  of   River  Front   Improvement  .  72c 

40.  Water  Front  at  Algiers 74" 

41.  Closer  View — .•\Igiers'  Water  Front 7-ib 

42.  Champs  Elysees,  Paris 70" 

43.  Junction  of  Lindell  and  McPherson  .Xvenues 80« 

44.  Cross  Section  Residence  Street 81 

45.  .X.  Street  in  Cabanne  District 82a 

46.  Cross  Section,   Business  Street 83 

47.  Suburban  Right-of-\Vay 84 

48.  Lindell  Boulevard HOrt 

4!l.  Proposed  Monument  to  St.  .'Vnge U'2ri 

jO.  Map  of  St.  r^ouis  and  Vicinity .\ppendi,x 


Members  of  the  City  Plan  Committees 


GENERAL  COMMITTEE. 

WM.  TRELEASE,  Chairman,  Director,  Missouri  Botanical  Gardens. 

JOHN  D.  DAVIS,  Vice-President  Mississippi  Valley  Tru^t  Company. 

DWIGHT  F.  DAVIS,  Member  Public  Library  Board  and  Public  Bath  Commission. 

JOHN  F.  LEE,  President  St.  Louis  Bar  Association. 

J.  LAWRENCE  MAURAN,  Architect,  Chairman  Public  Buildings  Commission. 

J.  CHARLESS  CABANNE,  President  St.  Louis  Dairy  Company. 

INNER  AND  OUTER  PARK  COMMITTEE. 

JOHN  D.  DAVIS,  Chairman. 

ROBERT  S.  BROOKINGS,  President,  Board  of  Directors,  Washington  University. 

ENDS  CLARKE,  Pre>ideni  St.  Louis  County  Livic  League. 

LEWIS  D.  DOZIER,  Director,  Mercantile  Trust  Company. 

DAVID  R.  FRANCIS,  President  Board  of  Directors,  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition 
Company. 

GEORGE  C.  HitCHCOCK,  Attorney-at-Law,  Member  of  the  City  Council. 

J.  A.  HOOKE,  .Assistant  Sewer  Commissioner. 

CHARLES  H.  HUTTIG,  President  Third  National  Bank. 

GEORGB  E.  KESSLER,  Landscape  Architect,  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  Company. 

ALBERT  B.  LAMBERT,  President  Automobile  Club. 

ROBERT  AlcCULLOCH,  Manager  United  Railways  Company. 

SAUNDERS  NORVELL,  President  Norvell-Shapleigh  Hardware  Company. 

MAJ.  JULIUS  PITZMAN,  Civil  Engineer. 

WM.  TRELEASE,  Director  Missour'  Botanical  Gardens. 

CALVIN  M.  WOODWARD.  Director  School  of  Manual  Training,  and  School  of  Engineer- 
ing, Washington  University. 

CIVIC  CENTERS. 

DWIGHT  F.  DAVIS,  Chairman. 

MRS.  PHILIP  N.  MOORE,  Former  President  Wednesday  Club. 

HENRY  WRIGHT,  Landscape  Architect. 

FREDERICK  G.  ZEIBIG.  Former  President  Real  Estate  Exchange. 

STREET  IMPROVEMENTS  COMMITTEE. 

J.  CHARLESS  CABANNE,  Chairman. 

HERMAN  VON  SCHRENK,  Pathologist,   in    charge    of   Mississippi  Valley   Laboratory, 

Department  of  Agriculture. 
WILBUR  T.  TRUEBLOOD,  President,  St.  Louis  Architectural  Club. 
THEODORE  C.  LINK,  Architect,  Member  American  Institute  of  Architects. 
EDWARD  FLAD,  Consulting  Engineer,  Former  Water  Commissioner. 
JAMES  C.  TRAVILLA,  Superintendent,  Street  Department. 
W.  P.  H.  TURNER,  President  Turner  Real  Estate  Company. 

MUNICIPAL  ART  COMMITTEE. 

J.  LAWRENCE  MAURAN,  Chairman. 

W.  K.  BIXBY,  Cha  rman.  Board  of  Directors,  American  Car  and  Foundry  Company. 

MURRAY  CARLETON,  President  Carleton  Drv  Goods  Company. 

JOHN  FOWLER.  Capitalist. 

HALSEY  C.  IVES,  Director,  St.  Louis  School  and  Museum  of  Fine  Arts. 

LEGISLATIVE  COMMITTEE. 

JOHN  F.  LEE,  Chairman. 

J.  LIONBERGER  DAVIS,  Attornev-at-Law. 

LUTHER  ELY  SMITH,  Attorney-at-Law. 

CHARLES  NAGEL,  Attornev-at-Law,  Former  President  Commercial  Club. 

R.  F.  WALKER,  Attornev-at-Law,  Former  Attorney  General  of  Missouri. 

B.  SCHNURMACHER,  Attornev-at-Law,  Former  City  Counselor. 


A  City  Plan  for  Saint  Louis 


STATEMENT  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  BOARD 

7'o  llir  Mriiihcis  itf  I  In    l,i(ii/iii-  (liiil  llir  ('if'r.ilis  f/f  St.  Louis: 

HICKEWITII    we   prcsciil    lor  yonv  coiisidcratioii  and  appi-oval   a 
plan  tor  the  inipi-ovcmi'iil  of  St.  Louis,  whit-h  lia.s  been  drafted 
witli  yrcat  rare  liy  I  lie  several  eoiiniiittees  composed  of  forty- 
two  eitizeiis  represent iiiii  almost   e\'ei-.v  jirofessioii  and   intei-esi    in  the 
city. 

Ill  N<»veinlier,  I'Jd."),  tlie  Ivxecntive  Hoard  apjKiinted  a  coinniittee  of 
five  to  consider  tlie  feasibility  and  scope  of  a  comprehensive  city  )dan. 
This  comniittee  consisted  of  ^^'nl.  Trelease,  Director 
Scope  of  a  City      "'   "'•'  -Missouri   ISotanical  (iardeiis;  .lolin   D.   Davis, 
Plan.  \'ice-l'resi(lent  (d'  the  Mississippi  Valley  Trust  Com- 

pany; .T.  Lawrence  Manran,  Architect  and  ('iiairinan 
<d'  the  J'uldic  I'.uildiiiiis  (  ommission ;  Jolin  F.  l>ee,  I'residciit  of  tiie 
St.  Louis  I'.ar  Association,  and  Dwiiiht  F.  Davis,  member  of  the  I'ublic 
Library  IJoard  and  I'ree  i'.aths  Commission.  xAfter  considerable 
investijiat ion  into  the  conditions  in  St.  Louis,  and  a  carid'ul  su!-\cy  of 
the  widespread  movement  for  civic  improvements,  the  commit  lee 
rei)orted  that  a  city  ]»lan  for  St.  Louis  was  not  only  feasible  but  most 
essential  and  desirable.  It  outlini'd  in  a  lieneral  way  the  main  features 
of  such  a  iilan.  and  recomiiiciiilecl  tlie  a]i]>oiiitmeiir  of  ti\'e  committees 
to  prepare  tentative  repoits  coverini;  tlie  various  parts  of  the  ]>\:iu.  and 
a  .li'eiieral  committee  to  co-ordinate  the  recommendations  of  the  se\-eral 
committe<'s  and  incoi-]porate  them  into  the  tinal  comiireheiisixc  re]>ort. 

The  prolilems  sii;Liiicsted  for  consideration  by  the  several  committees 
wet  e : 

I'M      A  iirouj)  plan  for  municipal  buildiii;;s. 
( /)  I      An  inner  and  outer  park  system. 

(el  Civic  centers — the  ;irou]iinii  *>(  small  parks  and  i)lay- 
liiounds,  public  baths,  branch  libraries,  schools,  model 
tenements,  p(dice  stations,  tire  eiiuine  houses,  and  other 
public  and  (|uasipublic  institutions. 


8  A     CirV     IM.A.N     Fdl!    SAINT    l.nllS. 

( '/ 1  Si  led  iiii]ti-<i\ciiiciiis — iiiiiiii  I  lidi  i>iii^lil';n-rs,  i-i\ci- rroni 
iini>n>\cin('iils,  H'limxiil  nt'  w  ires  ninl  |mi1cs,  street  inninii. 
tree  phuitiiii;,  imhlic  <-iiii\ciiieiices,  (Iriiikiuii-  romihiins. 
moniniietits  and  otiier  sti-eet   einliellisluueiirs. 

((')  A  .Municipal  Ai't  ('oiiiniissidii,  whicli  slumM  have  general 
supeixision  n\-er  tlie  ilesiiius  U>v  pnlilic  hiiililiiiLis  and 
all  works  (d  ai-t  In  lie  erected  in  St.  l^onis. 

([\  l>eiiis]al  ion  necessary  t<>  carr\'  inin  eflect  ilie  jdans  as 
outlined. 

Tin-  Exi'ftitivc  Itoard  was  fortunate  in  heiiiu  aide  to  secure  llie 
liratuitotis  services,  on  tliese  vavions  committees,  of  some  of  the  most 

ItrominenI  commercial,  technical  and  jn'ofessional 
Character  nien  of  the  city.      I'i-e(|ueni    meeiinj^s  of  the  sexerai 

of  Committees,      coniinittccs  were  held,  a  close  stud\'  was  made  (d'  I  he 

|iroldems  liid'ore  them,  and  their  recommendations 
have  heeii  cartdtilly  collated   hy  the  li'eiieral   committee. 

\Vhih'  the  rejiort  is  issued  at  this  parlicidar  lime  with  tho  hope  that 
it   will  furnish  siniucstions  for  tlie  piililic  imjirovemeiits  contemplated 

in  the  recent  .f ll.l'OO.IMM)  liond  issue,  its  ]>riniary 
Object  of  the  ohject  is  to  sniijily  this  city  with  a  jdan  which  w  ill. 

City  Plan  Report.      to  some  (■xtent,  direct  its  future  (h'veh)i)ment  ah)n^ 

riiild  lines.  The  ])ieceni('al  policy  which  has  (diar- 
acterized  its  past  i^rowth  can  no  Ioniser  lie  ]iermitted  if  this  citv  is 
to  retain  her  position  as  one  of  the  liieat  .\nierican  mnnici]ialiiies. 
.Vnother  (piaiiei  of  a  cenlnrv  will  see  our  ](opulalion  increased  to 
a  million  and  a  (piartei-,  and  the  limits  of  the  city  e.vtetided  as  far 
west  as  Clayton  or  Kirkwood.  A  fuiidaiM<'nial  plan  to  meet  the  needs 
of  this  growth  is  necessary.  The  industrial  future  of  the  city  demands 
it.  A  commei-cial  center  inxites  into  its  i!,ates  visitors,  retail  merchants, 
and  sli(i]ikee|iers  I'roiii  the  snrionndiiii;'  conntr,\'  an<l  travelers  from 
everywher( .  In  order  to  have  them  tarry  awhile  and  retnrn  asiain  the 
city  must  he  made  attractive,  which  means  dean  streets,  ])leasant 
homes,  jjoofl  transjiortatioii  facilities,  ])arks,  honlevards,  and  stately 
pidilic  liiiildini;s.  A  city  can  not.  in  the  modern  sense  nf  the  word, 
maintain  a  hijih  conimenial  standing;  unless  it  maintains,  at  the  same 
time,  a  hiuh  cixic  life. 


sTATKM  i:.\T  oi'  Tin:  KxiccrrivK  I'.oakh.  y 

("oin];i'iili(>ii  lictwccii  riiics  is  liccuniiiit;  kcciii-i-  ;ill  tin-  tiiiit^  as  tiaiis- 
]iiiitaiiuii    taciliiii's  iiici-casc.      It  diic  ciiy  makes  itself  more  iuviting 
tliaii  its  iieiiLililioi-  it  is  Ixmiid  to  attract  more  peo])le. 
Competition  -^  i-itv,  after  all.  is  a  lii-eat   Imsiiiess  estalilislimeiit 

Between  Cities,  in  wliith  ilinu^ainls  of  srocUholder.s  are  interesteil. 
Irs  sireet  plan  must  he  couvenleut  and  attraetive, 
its  linildiii^s  nnist  he  architecturally  beautiful,  and  it  must  furnish  its 
residents  and  visitors  the  sann^  comforts  and  conveniences  which  its 
neiiihhois  can  sniii)l\,  if  it  expects  to  linhj  its  rank  anionti  proj^ressive 
nrhan  centers. 

Furthermore,  if  a  well-detined  plan  is  not  now  determined  upon 
it  will  have  to  he  done  hy  the  futni-e  Sr.  Louis  at  tremendous  cost. 
To  a\iiid  this  mistake  the  ("ivic  League  lias  drafted  this  i-eport. 
which  it  now  submits  to  the  citizens  for  their  ap]>ro\al.  and  to  the 
city  ofticials  for  theif-  consideration  and  adopticm.  It  is  not  exi»ected 
that  the  plans,  fontemplatins«-  an  ex])enditure  of  more  than  f 25.000.0(10 
of  jiublic  icveiiite.  will  be  carried  oitt  w  ithin  the  m^xt  few  years.  Iitit 
thev  will  furnish  a  uiiide,  so  that  when  a  ]iitblic  buildinii  is  erected, 
the  ])aik  s\siem  exteinled.  or  a  statue  locati-d.  it  will  be  done  i-iiiht 
instead  n\  wionji'.  and  some  effort  will  be  made  tow.-iid  the  artainment 
of  the  practical  ideals  included  in  these  recommendations. 

We  desire  to  acknowledije  the  nuiny  courtesies  anrl   the  valitable 
services  rendered  by  the  Street,  Sewer  and  Park   Depaitments  of  the 
City  (tovei  iinient.  and  especiall\'  the  ser\  ices  of  .Mr. 
Acknowledg-       'ieoriic  E.  Ke.ssler,  Landscai)e  Architect  (»f  the  Louisi- 
ments.  iina    I'urchase   Ex])ositi(Ui    Company;   Henry   Wriiiht. 

Land.scajH'  Architect;  James  C.  Tiavilla.  Sujierintend- 
eni  Stieel  1  »e](arrment  ;  .T.  .\.  lluoke.  Assistant  Sewer  ( 'ommissiou'-r ; 
Williiii  T.  Truebhiod.  I'resident  of  the  Architectural  Clui>.  and  to 
the  manv  oilier  iiublic-s])irited  citizens  who  have  liiveii  freely  of  their 
time  and  means  to  the  furtherance  of  this  w(U-k. 

Uespeci  fully  submitted. 

EXECtTIVE  BO.JiRD. 
yi.wo  Feslf.r.  Secretary.  Henuy  T.  Kknt.  President. 

GotVERXECH     C.M.HOrX.  .\.   .\.    McMlI-t.AN. 

Dii.  M.   B.  Ci.Di'Tox,  .1.   Lawhence   Machax. 

DwiciiT   F.   Davis.  Saixhers   Nokveli.. 

Edward  C.  Ei.iot.  Chari.es  Reb.stock. 

J.  H.  Grxur-ACH.  Ciiari.es   A.   Stix, 

.1.  L.  HoRXsuy,  B.  J.  Tai-ssig, 

T.  S.  McPhketers.  Fred.  G.  Zeibig. 

St.  Louis,  .lanuarv  S,  1007. 


The  Need  of  a  City  Plan  for  St.  Louis 


STATEMENT   OF    THE    GENERAL   COMMITTEE 

V'o  the  E.rcciil  lit    liiiinti  (if  Tin    ('iri<-  Lcih/ik: 

Till']  (iciicral  ('iry  I'laii  ('(iiiiuiitlcc,  ii]>iioiiit(Ml  liv  tlic  IM-csidciit  of 
tlic  Ecajinc  to  co-onliiiaTc  The  several  reports  of  the  various  i-oiu- 
iiiiTtees  and  incorimrate  tlieiii  into  the  liiial  coiniireheiisivo  plan, 
liei;s  h-ave  to  rejiorl  llial  it  lias  held  fre(|iieiit  sessions,  carefMlly 
ronsidered  the  reconnneiidal  ions  of  each  coiiiniiltee  ill  tlie  liiiht  of  their 
relation  to  the  whole  plan,  and  herewith  suhniits  the  resnlls  nf  its  laiior 
in  tlie  I'orni  of  a  reiiorl.  We  ho]ie  that  tiie  jilan  as  outlined  will  al  least 
aid  in  aroiisiuLi  the  jiuhlir  sentiment  of  St.  Louis  to  ihe  need  of  cixic 
iin]iroveiuents  on  a  roni|U'eliensi\'e  scale. 

In  order  to  carry  out  iutelli;Lii'iitIy  the  duties  assinned  to  it,  your 
("oniniillee  considered  the  situation  from  the  poiufs  of  \iew  of  the 
present  location  and  to]io^rapliical  advantaiics  of  St.  Louis,  the  niove- 
ineiits  in  other  cities  for  ini])ro\'ements,  and  the  obvious  iieedw  of  a 
wcll-detiiied  ])lan  for  tliis  city. 

Si.    Louis  occupies  a   mai;nificenl    natural   situation   in   the  hend   id' 
the  river,   with  a   topoiirajihy   which   niiyhl    have  made   it    one  (d'  the 
most   lieatitiful  cities  in  America,  an  undiilatint; 
Present  Conditions      surface  with   ridiics  admirably  adapted   lo   w  ide 
in  St.  Louis.  ii'i'l     lieauiiful     houlexards,     and     a     fan-sha]ie(l 

arrangement  (d'  streets  which  i;a\'e  every  o])]ior- 
tunity  for  con\'euient.  wide  and  cumfortahle  tluu-oniilifares  extending; 
from  a  common  axis  in  all  directions  back  from  the  river.  These  nat- 
ural advantaji'es  have  by  no  means  been  fully  utilized.  The  city  has  been 
]»ermitte<l  to  expand  to  the  north,  west  and  south  withotit  any  directinii 
jdan.  Its  <;rowth  has  been  hajthazard  and  has  followed  the  lines  (d' 
h'asi  resistance.  Real  estate  sjteculators  and  iu-o](ertv  owners  have 
been  iiermitted  to  follow  their  own  caprices  and  .self-interest.  The 
results  are  that  instead  of  havinii  a  city  with  convenient  and  coiii- 
niodious  rhorouiih fares,  jileiitv'  of  open  s])aces  and  s(|uares,  and  a 
liarnionious  m-oupiuii  id'  juiblic  bnildiusis,  wi'  have  narrow  streets,  few 
breathing;  spaces,  and  a  i;cneral  absence,  in  the  business  portion  of  the 
cit\,  of  those  features  which  make  a  citv  attractive. 


STATKMKXT    OF    TEIK    nKXHUAI,     I OM  M ITTKK.  11 

From  tlic  ii\cr  fi-oiit  to  llic  city  limits  at  fvcry  step  in  the  west  ward 
<;r<i\\th  of  tiic  lily  are  seen  evidences  of  tlie  failure  to  see  the  relation 
of  tliinjrs.  A  iK'antifiii  river  front  lias  been  ^ivcii 
Neg'lected  Natural  over  witliout  rescr\ation  to  smoking  factories  and 
Advantag'es.  railroad  i racks.     The  maiinificent  Idutt's  in  South 

St.  Louis  ovcrjonkini;  the  river  an-  toda\  licinii 
scon])cd  (df  foi-  liri<k — Idutfs  which  should  luive  heen  the  sites  for 
lieautiful  homes  and  dcli.iihtful  snuill  parks  and  lireathiiifi'  s]»ots. 
Between  .Mill  ("reek  Valley  and  BisselTs  Point,  from  ^Main  Street  to 
firaiid  Avenue,  where  li\c  iiiie-liiird  of  ilie  city's  ]in|iulatinii.  arc  fuuiid 
only  two  small  i)arks.  A  trij*  throu.iih  the  husiuess  sections  will  show 
scarcely  a  siu.ule  oj)en  si>ace  oi'  monument  to  relieve  the  im])ressiou 
of  jieneral  u.uliness  in  that  district. 

II'  the  journey  he  extended  into  llie  heautiful  i-csidcutial  sections, 
foi  wliich  St.  I.oiiis  is  famous,  the  lack  of  a  well-devised  jdan  will  still 
be  seen,  l^uildiui;'  lines  have  not  been  observed; 
Absence  of  business   Idocks  and   livery   stables   have   been   jter- 

Rig'ht  Planning'.  mittcd  to  eiicroacli  niinn  jiurely  residence  streets; 
flats  have  been  jammed  in  betxAcen  beautiful  homes; 
the  choicest  paved  streets  have  beconu-  nuiin  thoroughfares  for  heavy 
hauling;  and  only  the  "Places"  are  protecte<l  from  the  encroachment  of 
street  cars,  switch  tracks  and  olijectioiialilc  bnii<liiigs.  Tin-  average 
citizen,  w  ho  is  seeking  a  (|ui(>t  home  away  from  the  noise  and  discomfort 
of  traffic,  is  helpless  in  the  face  of  this  riot  of  conflicting  and  seltish 
interests — the  direct  results  of  a  lack  (d'  jilan  and  insufficient  reg- 
iilal  ions. 

While  these  same  conditions,  in  more  or  less  modified  form,  exist 
in  ]iraclically  every  American  city,  a  large  nnnilier  of  them  have  set 
about  to  change  these  conditicuis  and  hav(> 
Widespread  Move-  adojited  and  are  ]iui  ting  into  ettcct  comprehensive 
ment  for  Civic  jdans  for  the  grouping  id'  pnidic   buildin.us.   the 

Attractiveness.  construction  of  jjarks  and  parkways,  the  creation 

or  eidargement  of  ])ark  systems  to  im  lude  exten- 
sive (Hiter  belt  park  areas,  I  h<'  w  id  cuing  ami  improving  id'  thon  nigh  lares, 
the  beautif.xin.u'  of  water-fronts,  and  otiier  forms  of  civic  improxcmeiits, 
which  will  result  at  no  distant  da.\'  in  idaciiig  American  cities  among 
ii:c  tirst  in  the  WDi-Jd  of  w  clj-oidcfcd  niiinicijtalit  ics.  Not  less  than 
twenty  American  cities  are  considering  extensive  modititations  in  their 
city  ])lans.     Scarcely  a  mouth   jiasses  without  the  n])pointment    of  a 


12  A    riTY    ri.AN     I'Ol!    SAINT    LOlIS. 

coiiiiiiissioii  (H-  tli(    ciniilnN  iiiciit   <)t   nil  i'Xiicit   ill  sonic  iiii](niiiiiit   city 
to  consider  liiis  (|iicstioii. 

New  York,  wiiich  lias  alrciHlv  spent  millions  for  small  parks,  jilax- 
yrounds  ami  free  pnlilic  liatlis  in  tlic  coiincsied  portions  of  tlie  city, 
lias  drafted  |ii cliiiiiiiary  plans  for  extensive  iiiiiirii\-e- 
New  York  City.  nieiits  alun;^  ijie  entire  water-front  of  tlie  city,  for 
I  lie  widening  id'  a  nnnilier  of  main  tlioroninlifares, 
the  liiKiipiiii;  ol  piililic  Iniildiniis  aliniii  ilie  (  iiy  Hall  I'ark.  the  a<lo])tion 
i)(  a  ]M'riiiaiienl  street  svsieiii  fill-  tlie  iiiilmill  districts,  and  a  vast 
scheim    I'nr  cininect  int;  the  \arions  liori>iii;hs  with  ilanliattan  Island. 

<'le\eland.  (Hiici,  has  actually  hejiiin  the  formation  of  one  of  the 
most  extensive  civic  i^iioiips  in  America  hy  secnrini;  tweiitv-fonr  Iducks 
of  valnalde  laml  in  tin-  heart  (d'  the  Inisiness  district. 
Cleveland.  extendinii  from  the  i»nlilic  siniare  to  the  lake  front.  i>ii 
which  will  lie  erected,  alonji'  a  central  mall,  federal  and 
miiniripa!  lniildiii;L;s.  as  well  as  theaters  and  other  (|iiasi-]»nl)lic  Iniild- 
inii's.  On  the  lake  fruni  is  to  lie  erected  a  ."ijiB.OOO.OOd  I'liion  Railway 
Station,  in  front  of  which  will  lie  a  lake-froiit  park  constincted  hy 
tilliii!.;  in  a  considerahle  area  of  the  lake.  These  inijirox-ements.  coslini: 
.fl  .").(>( )((.(}( Id.  will  furnish  an  eiit  iaiice-w;i\  to  the  citv  which,  for  diiinity 
and  heantw  will  hardlx    lie  surpassed  in  aii\'  city  of  the  world. 

Chicajio  has  alreadv  a  jiark  sysieiii  of  einlitv-fonr  jiarks  and  twciity- 
nine  miles  t>\  connectiiiii  houlexards.  aiiiireiiatinj:'  H.KI'.t  acres,  and 
iiicliidinu  t wentv-eijiht  small  jiarks  tlioroni;iily  eqnipped 
Chicago.  \viih  free  li.nhs.  swimniinu  po(ds.  readin<i  rooms,  hrancli 
liliiaries.  asseiiddy  halls,  jiymnasi-.ims  and  ])la.vjironnds. 
A  ]dan  has  heeii  comjdeted  calliiiii  for  the  ]inrchase  of  an  outer  park 
area  or  forest  reserve  of  :?(t.d(IO  aci-es  alonj;  the  Des  Plaines  l{iver  and 
aliont  Lake  ('aliiinet  in  Cook  Coiinly.  at  a  prolialde  cost  of  if|;2."),(KK),0(l(l. 
l'iirihermor<  .  the  <"oniiiiercial  <'liili  has  employed  the  services  of  I).  II. 
Itnrnham.  the  well-known  architect,  to  draft  a  city  jilan  for  ("hicajio 
as  broad  and  com]»rehensive  as  the  \\'ashin;L;ton  ])lan. 

San  I'raiicisco.  a  few  inonllis  hetore  the  recent  disaster,  had  com- 
pleted the  (liafi  of  a  comiireheiisive  iilan  for  the  improvement  and 
adornment  of  the  city,  in<-lndin.n  roails,  drives,  jiarks. 
San  Francisco.  playi:ronnds.  civic  centers,  puldic  Imildiniiis  and 
niinieion-;  detailed  su<i5iestions.  If  the  new  city  is 
able  to  carry  out  these  plans  San  I'rancisco  will  he  one  of  the  most 
heantifnl  cities  on  the  continent. 


ST.vTi:>ri;\T  df  tiik  ckxkkai.   i  u.m AiriTKr:.  •        13 

Boston  lias  iidI  niil\  llic  tiiicst  ami  iiiusi  coiiijilcri-  iinici-  licit  park 
systcMii  ill  .Vniciica.  cinisistiii:;:  of  :.'.;!()((  acres  aud  twcnty-tlii-cc  miles  of 
lioulcvaids.  lull  tlic  city  is  snrrotindcd  Ity  a  iiictro|)olitan 
Boston.  l>aik  system  of  more  than  ten  tlionsaml  acres  cnniu'cted 
by  beautifnl  drixcs  and  jiarkways.  Itoston  lias  one  ci\ic 
center  <ironi).  fifteen  ])layiii-oiinds.  ten  lieacli  liatlis,  twelve  float init  baths 
and  eleven  sliowcr  batbs — all  fri'i-  lo  the  people  of  the  city. 

Kansas  city.  .Missouri,  a  city  i>f  a  little  more  than  2(10.(10(1  popnla- 
tion,  has  a  park  area  of  over  I'.OOO  acres  and  tliiriviune  miles  of 
boulevards  and  park  driveways.  Seven  million  didlars 
Other  Cities.  have  been  spent  in  the  past  ten  years  on  this  jiark  and 
lionlevard  svstem.  AX'asliinjiton  ("ity  and  the  IH.strict 
of  ( 'oluinlpia,  if  liie  plans  alreadv  adojited  are  carri<'d  ont.  will  have 
not  only  a  park  area  of  s.(l(M»  acr<'s  and  a  .system  of  i)arkways  sixty- 
five  miles  lon^.  bnt  a  lirouji  of  federal  and  (inasi-i)nblic  bniblinins 
iinsnr]ia.ssed  in  anv  city  of  the  world.  l*rovidence  has  pro]iosed  a 
nietroj)olitan  ]iark  svstem  of  a  tlionsaml  acres  and  shore  drives  ei;:hteeu 
miles  in  lenutli.  St.  I'anl  has  jdanned  a  picturesipie  iiii-onp  of  jtublic 
Imildinns  with  the  new  Minnesota  cajtitol  in  the  center.  The  Twin 
Cities  have  aiireed  njion  an  nnii|ne  system  of  paries  and  honlevards 
linkinii' the  river  drives  with  ilie  inland  lakes.  Detroit  recent  ly  drafted 
plans  for  beantifvin;Li  its  water-front.  Denver  emjiloyed  an  expert  to 
offer  siijiiicstions  for  elaborate  street  improvements  and  boulevard 
extension.  Kveti  the  smaller  lities  have  caniiht  the  spirit.  I'roliably 
more  civic  expert  woiU  is  bein^  iloiie  todav  than  at  an\'  time  in  the 
world's  history. 

^^'hile  St.  Louis  has  not  been  so  far  behind  in  this  mo\-ement.  as  is 
seen  in  the  report  of  the  I'nblic  lluildinus  ('omniission  and  the  Kinjis- 

hiulnvax  ( 'ommission,  the  time  has  come  when 
St.  Louis  Needs  these  reports  should  be  incorporated  into  a  more 

Well  Defined  Plan.      complete   city    plan    which    is   essential    to    any 

systematic  develo]»nieiit  of  this  rajiidlv  urowini; 
city.  St.  Louis  today,  if  the  |ireilict  ions  of  her  leadinu  citizens  are 
correct,  is  on  the  exc  ol  a  remarkable  expansion  in  pojinlation,  trade 
and  in(lusir\.  The  city  will,  in  all  jirobability.  contain  bv  102.")  at 
least  a  million  and  a  i|narter  iidiabitants.  This  means  the  extension  of 
streets,  the  crowding  of  the  clow  ii-low  u  business  sections,  the  iirowth 
of  suburban  areas,  mid  ilu'  creation  of  scores  of  municipal  prolilems 
which    will    directly    alleci    the    health,    comfort    atid    jileasure   of    the 


14         .  A    (  TIV    I'LA.N     l'(JK    SAl.NT    LOl  IS. 

million  and  a  iinartcr  jicojilc  tlicn  coniirciiatpd  within  a  radius  of  ten 
iiiilcs  fi'(tni  till'  City  Hall.  Tlicsc  conditions  make  a  woll-dctincd  ])ro- 
lii-ani  for  civic  dcvcloimiiMit  iniitcrativo. 

In  tlic  consideration  of  tlic  rcjiorts  of  die  \ai-ions  coniniittccs  we 
liavc  k('])t  constantly  in  view  tlic  practical  and  the  attainable.  We 
have  considered  the  eity  as  it  is,  its  location,  its 
A  Practical  Plan.  to]>oi;ra)iliy,  its  ])resent  conditions  and  fntnre  ])os- 
sihilities,  and  have  attenijtted  to  co-ordinate  the 
excellent  recoinnieiidations  of  the  various  connnittees  into  a  compre- 
hensive ]dau  which,  if  carried  into  effect,  will  enable  the  city  to  realize 
to  some  extent  its  opportunities  for  gi'eater  civic  comfort,  convenience 
and  beauty. 

It  is  not  expected  that  these  imi»rovemeuts  will  all  be  attempted  in 
the  immediate  future.  They  must  necessarily  be  extended  over  a 
nuitdier  of  years,  and  be  executed  only  as  the  city  develops  and  its  civic 
l>rid<'  and  tinaucial  ability  enlariie. 

A  report  of  this  extent,  co\-erin,i;  so  many  different  jihases  of 
municii)al  imiirovements,  must  necessarily  deal  only  w  ith  licnei-al  jilans 
and  recommendations.  The  details  must  l)e  left  to  those  who  carry 
oul   llie  suiiijcstions  contained  in  the  report. 

The  advantaucs  to  be  juained  from  the  adojition  of  a  comitrehensive 
scheme  are  several;  it  will  i;i\i'  due  iniiioi-tance  to  each  held  of 
iiinnici])al  impro\-ements;  it  will  furnish  a  nucleus 
Advantages  of  a  around  which  |iul>lic  sentiment  can  crystallize;  it 
City  Plan.  ^vill   hel])  to  realize  the  unit\'  of  oni-  civic  life  by 

lirin.miui;  toi.;cther  the  dit'ferent  sections  of  the  city; 
but  mor(  than  all  else  it  will  tend  to  hrini;  civic  orderliness  and  beauty 
where  otherwise  will  continue  to  exist  a  \;\v]i  of  unity  and  an  absence 
of  diiiuity  and  harmony.  If  these  results,  even  in  a  snmll  <l(\inree,  can 
be  secui'ed  by  this  report  your  sevei-al  committees  will  feel  fully  com- 
pensated lor  the  time  and  effort  liiven  to  the  various  details  of  this 
I'li'll-  Kespect  I'lllly  sulimitled, 

GENERAL  CITY   PLAN   COMMITTEE. 
Wii.    Tkki.e.\sk.    Chairman. 
J.   CiiAitMoss  Cab.'vn'XE.         Joii.n  D.  Davis. 
DwiiiiiT  F.   Davis.  J.   Lawrkxcr   Maiha.n. 

John  F.  Lee. 
Mayo  Fesler,  Hecretary. 


Historical  Sketch 


THE    PHYSICAL   GROWTH    OF    ST.   LOUIS 

A(  iLAX< 'I'^  ;il  llic  iiijiiMif  St.  Louis  will  show  a  <-ily  w  liosc  ]>li\sical 
(l('\i-ln]uiii-iit  and  {'.\]iaiisioii  to  tlic  north,  west  and  soulh  liave 
followed  no  wcll-dclincd  plan.  Suhdivisions  have  Iktii  opiMUML 
siiccis  have  hccn  jdaltcd  and  the  limits  of  the  rity  extended  with  little 
ilioiiLiht  ot  the  futuii'  needs  of  a  ureat  nieti-ojxilis.  Streets,  it  is  trne, 
have  iu  a  jieueral  way,  lint  with  many  irre*<ularities,  followed  the  fan- 
sha]ied  arraniienient  wliicli  has  heen  foreed  upon  the  city  by  its  nnif|ue 
position  in  the  hend  of  th<'  i-ivei-,  lint  no  effort  has  ever  heen  made  to 
])rojeet  strai;^lit.  w  ide,  commodions  thoroughfares  radiating  from  a  com- 
mon renter  or  ojx-n  s(inare  in  tlie  heart  of  the  city.  Park  spaces  in  the 
crowded  ]iortiou  have  heen  sadly  neglected;  the  grouping  of  ])nl)lic 
liuildings  has  received  little  attention;  and  the  natural  advantage  of 
location  anil  topograph\  wliiili  this  city  has  possessed  has  been 
seriously  disregarded  excej)!  where  tlu'  demands  of  trade  and  ronnnerce 
have  made  it  expedient  to  take  advantage  of  it. 

The  history  of  St.  Louis  fui-nishes  no  story  of  a  concerted  efforl  to 
agree  n|)oii  a  city  plan   wliieh   wouhl   have  prevented  many  of  these 
irregularities  and  much  of  the  inconvenience  and 
History  Shows  No      actual  discomfort  whicli  have  been  left  as  a  jier- 
City  Plan.  manent    iidieritance   to   the  generations   who   will 

reside  within  the  ]iri'sent  boundaries.  If  a  definite 
.scheme  of  extension  and  develojiment  had  been  agreed  upon  as  late  as 
1S2*J,  when  the  city  \\as  first  incorjiorated  ami  when  its  western  limit 
was  Sex'enth  Street,  its  growth  could  have  been  dirc^cted  along  right 
lilies  with  only  slight  changes  in  the  existing  streets  and  at  little  cost 
to  the  tax  payers.  lOven  as  late  as  1S41  a  well-defined  ]ilati  weuld  have 
eliminated  many  of  the  present  obstructions  to  free  communication, 
but  advanlage  was  not  taken  of  these  ojiportunities  and  the  ])resent 
l)hysical  outlines  of  the  city  with  its  street  irregularities,  its  lack  of 
wide  main  lliorouglifares.  its  aliseuce  of  open  spaces  and  attractive 
s(|uares  and  \istas.  are  the  icsults  of  an  undirected  growth  of  more  than 
a  hundred  years.     A  brief  historical  sketch  of  this  physical  growth  will 


16  A    CITY    PLAN    Ff)I!    SAINT    r.OTTS. 

slinw    liow   sdiue  of  tlu'sc  roiiditioiis  dcvoloiicd  junl  liow  futile  it   would 
hi-  to  iitl('in|)t   iiiiy  vndical  chaiifics  in  llic  iicncrai  jdan  of  the  city. 

Il  was  ill  Xovcinlici-.  1703,  tliat  ricrvc  l.aclcdc  Lii;iii'stc  and  his  liaiid 
of  liadci-s  from  New  (M-!caiis  landed  on  tlie  hanks  of  the  ^Iississi|)j)i  at 

what  is  iKtw  the  fool  of  Walnut  Street.  Here  lie  found 
Founding' of  ■'   liniesioiii-  lilulf  rising  ahoiit    forty  feel   aho\c  Ihe 

St.  Louis.  1763.      ordinary  lieii;hl   of  the  water,  sloiiiny  hack   in   two 

or  three  terraces  to  the  west  and  extendinji'  some  two 
miles  alon;;  llie  river-frorii.  'i'liis  lilniT  and  ihe  recedinji  terraces  above 
aud  to  the  west  were  covered  with  a  heavy  frrowtli  of  timber  extendiujx  in 
an  irreuular  line  as  far  back  as  Fourth  Street.  From  this  ])oint  on 
the  top  of  tiie  hill  and  to  the  west  was  a  broad  and  uudiilatinii  iirairii- 
witii  lier<'  and  ihcre  clnm])s  i>(  scrub  oak  or  hejivier  growths  of  tindier. 
Alon^  what  is  now  Mill  « 'reek  Valley  was  a  aiore  heavily  wooded 
rejiion.  l!ra(  kenridye,  in  his  "Views  of  Louisiana."''  written  several 
years  later,  says  of  St.  Louis  and  its  en\irons: 

"Lookinii  to  the  wcsl  a  niosi  charminL;  coiinir.\  spreads  itself 
before  lis.  It  is  neither  \('ry  level  nor  hilly,  but  an  a.iireeable 
wavini:  surface,  and  rising:  foi-  several  miles  with  an  ascent  almost 
imperceptible.  Iv\ce])l  a  small  belt  to  the  north,  there  are  few 
trees;  the  rest  is  covered  w  ith  shrubby  oak,  intermixed  with  hazels 
and  a  few   tritlinii-  thickets  of  thorn,  crab  apide  or  ]ilum  trees." 

In  December.  17ti:>.  I>aclede  marked  the  site  for  his  new  tradiiii:  ]>ost 
in  the  vicinity  of  Walnut  Street  and  the  levee,  declarin*;-  as  he  did  so, 

"This  settlement  will  become  om'  of  the  finest  cities 
First  Streets  and  "^  America."  In  the  spriug  of  1764,  after  winter- 
Building's,  ill!.' at  l-'ort  (  hart  res,  Aiiiiuste  Chouteau  and  thirty 

of  the  ]iarly  returned  to  the  site  of  the  ])ro])osed 
settlement  and  beiiaii  cleaiiii.u  the  laud  on  the  river-front  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  ])ost  house  for  the  commander,  cabins  for  the  men  aud  a  large 
shed  oi-  store  house  for  the  |iroleciion  of  the  ])rovisions.  tools  and 
stoics.  The  jiosi  house,  the  liea(h| uarters  of  the  tradinii  compan_\', 
which  was  built  on  the  blocks  now  bouiidecl  by  .Market  aud  Walnut, 
Main  and  Second  Streets,  .served  as  the  focal  point  from  which  all 
measurements  were  first  made  in  assigning  lots,  platting  streets  and 
locating  other  buildings.  In  his  first  ]tlat  of  the  village  Latdede  re- 
served the  block  adjoining  the  trading  post  on  the  east  and  fronting 
the  river  as  "La  Place  d'Arines,"  or  I'liblic  Sipiare.  and  the  block 
adjoining  the  jtost  to  the  west  as  the  location  for  Tlie  church.     Those 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH. 


17 


Samf  J^uis  d 


es 


no'"- 


^. 


FORT / F / £      PAK    MoNsicuH     D.    f/fAA/COii,    0£    CovS^T. 
t/S(/T£  fVAJVT     tOlON£i.      £T       L/£ar£  A/A/yT       &  Ot/V  £  fi  f*£  U  R , 
Oe   LoLpart^t.       Octt^^nta-Ct    D£  S  JL/NOI  &         £  At    /7eO 


A.    lA    rooM.  0     D£Ar/s    it//vfi.  c.    B  Ai  r/  o/^  ■..  o.     Po^  t  £  %  ,         s.    o  o  t/  v  £ /i^  £  Aff^ /vr 

f        E6Lli£.  &.       P,.AC£.  H.     />tTlT£  ft>V,£Jt£       /       £ /^  fit  AC  £  M  £  A*  T  S    ^^i.    PA  ff-r  ,  c  <,  l  '  £  f^ !,. 


\4.     Ml,     LAvliRC     ^o'Em     17&0     f».«    OROfO    Ob     (#oy  w  i  ft  ■  t  »«  t  ••■*, 


Jf  €^rttf^9     out  it    fs^t4»nT    ett  (€^jyya-frrt    ,1  w  ^/a  n 
Stt  lows    /"  Se^t:  'OiS. 


.MAP    or    SAINT    LOLIS.    1764. 


18  A  CITY  rr,AX  for  saint  louis. 

to  the  uoi-th  ami  .-south  aloug  I  Ik-  rivcr-frout  wi-re  theu  assigued  to  those 
settlers  who  desired  to  build  homes.  The  tirst  assiguments  were  nuule 
to  faee  ou  Main  Street,  wliieh  left  the  splendid  river-front  as  the  hack 
yard  instead  of  tiie  frt)nt  yard  of  liie  village.  Even  at  this  early  date 
St.  Louis  liegan  to  turn  its  hack  on  that  natural  feature  of  tlic  land- 
scape which  niiuht  have  lieen  utilized  to  enliance  the  lieauty  of  I  lie 
future  city. 

The  next  ste])  in  the  village  i)lan.  after  the  individual  assignments 
to  the  settlers  were  made  and  the  cabins  erected,  was  tlie  arrangement 
for  a  "Commons,"  Avhere  all  the  live  stock  of  the 
The  Commons.  sei tiers  might  graze.  A  considerable  tract  of  land 
lo  the  south  and  we.st  of  the  village,  well  wooded  and 
watered,  including  the  present  area  bounded  approxinialely  iiy  fourth 
and  Tenth  Streets,  Tark  ami  Clark  Avenues,  was  set  aside  f(u-  this 
]»uri)ose  and  during  the  summer  of  ITtJo  was  securely  enclosed  by  the 
united  labor  of  all  the  .settlers.  The  eastern  limit  of  tbi.s  enclosure 
furnished  a  ]M(rtion  of  the  tirst  western  boundai-y  to  the  village. 

The  new  community  then  turned  its  attention  to  the  .selection  of  a 
tiact  of  laud  as  a  "Common  Field,"  most  suitable  for  cultivation.  To 
the  west  and  iu)rth  of  the  village,  in  what  was  then 
The  Common  known  as  "Ka  (Jrande  I'l-airie,"  was  a  stretch  of  open 
Fields.  ]daiu,   fertile  and   especially   ada])ted   to   farming,   ex- 

tending from  the  present  Alai-ket  Sti*eeT  to  the  i'.ig 
.Mound  (near  .Mullanphy  Street)  on  the  north  an<l  from  I'.roailway  to 
.Jetfer.sou  Avenue  on  the  west.  This  tract  was  divided  into  .strips  one 
ari»ent  tl02i>;  feet)  in  width  and  forty  arpents  (770  feet)  in  de])th, 
and  assigned  to  the  various  settlers  for  cultivation.  As  the  ]Mii(ulation 
increased  these  c(UHmon  fields  were  extended  until  in  177.")  they  co\-ered 
.several  hundred  acres  to  the  west  of  the  village.  They  were  known  by 
various  names,  such  as  "La  Grande  Prairie,"  "La  Prairie  des  Xoyers,"' 
"La  Prairie  de  Cnl  de  Sac,"  "La  Petite  Prairie"  and  "La  Prairie 
Catalons." 

Th(>  close  of  the  year  1704  saw  a  total  of  forty  people  located  in  the 
new  .settlement,  but  the  year  17G5  witnessed  a  considerable  increa.se  in 
the  poptilation  by  the  addition  of  immigrants  from  the 
Growth  French  settlement  in  the  territory  east  of  the  ^fississippi, 

of  Villagre.  which  had  been  transferred  to  the  British.  The.se  new 
settlers  were  c(u-dially  welcomed  by  Lacdede  and  add(>d 
an  important  element  to  his  new  settlement.  During  the  snmmei-  of 
l~(\o  tnore  than  eightv  verbal  grants  of  lots  were  made  to  these  new 


MAP ST  LOUIS 

AD.      1604 


MAP    SHOWING    HOW    ST,    LOUIS    EARLY    TURNED    HER    BACK    ON    A    BEAUTIFUL    RIVER    FRONT. 


Map  of  Saint  Louis,  1804 


IIISTOKirAL   SKETCH.  19 

scltlci's.  This  iinlmsincss-likc  niclliod  of  iiiMkiiiti  grants  coiitiiiucil 
until  ITtHi,  when  ("ajjtiiin  Louis  ^^t.  .Vn.ne  dc  licllcrivc,  tlic  FitiuIi 
Liciitcniint-dovernor,  arrivctl  at  St.  Loui.s  and  began  the  adininisti-ation 
of  affairs.  He  at  once  replaced  the  method  of  verl»al  <irants  liy  reipiir- 
iiiii  lliciii  to  be  re,i5istered  in  llie  ''IJvres  Tei-rien,"  or  lieuistcr  of  heeds. 
In  IKitj  the  settlement  .sometimes  called  "Laclede's  Villajic"  coiisisled 
of  se\i'nty-ti\'e  Iniildiufis,  two  streets  and  some  300  peo]»]e.     'PJie  two 

streets.  La  Hue  Koyale,  afterwards  La  Hue  i'rin- 
St.  Louis  Under  eipah-  mow  .Main  Street|,aiid  La  Kue  de  i^'IO^lise, 
Spanish  Rule.  ('burch    Street    (now    Second    Street),    were   each 

thirty-six  I'^rench  feet  in  width.  Most  of  the  in- 
babiiants  lived  on  .Main  Street.  IJv  1770  the  villajic  had  increased  its 
jiopulation  to  alioul  .">0(l  and  the  numlrer  of  buildings  to  11.">.  In  17S0 
a  third  parallel  street  was  added,  wliicb  was  called  La  IJue  des  <"iran,iLics, 
or  Street  of  the  I'arus  (now  Thii-d  Street  |.  It  was  so  named  because 
of  I  lie  numlier  of  barns  and  slieds  which  graced  it.  In  ]7!)S  (Jovernor 
Delassus  bad  a  c<'nsus  of  rpjier  Louisiana  Territory  taken,  which  gave 
the  i)opulatiou  of  St.  Louis  as  925  souls.  Dui-ing  tiie  w  liole  jieriod 
of  Sjiauisb  rule  over  the  Louisiana  Territory,  from  1770  to  ISOO,  little 
attention  was  ))ai(l  by  the  Spanisli  authorities  at  New  ()i-leans  to  this 
.settlement  on  the  .Mississippi.  Not  even  was  the  line  of  fortiticalious 
wliirii  liad  been  projected  about  the  village  completeil.  Throughout 
this  period  of  uiore  tluin  a  tpiarter  of  a  century  St.  Louis  was  left 
unmolested  and  free  to  develop  in  its  owu  way. 

In  1804,  when  the  region  was  ceded  by  Napoleon  to  the  Fnited  States, 
St,  Louis,  according  to  .Major  Amos  Stoddard  who  took  possession  of 

r]ii)er  Louisiana  for  the  federal  goxcrniiient,  con- 
st. Louis  in  1804.       tained  only   ISd  hou.ses  built  chietiy  of  wood  and 

stone,  .^lost  of  these  were  located  on  La  Kue 
I'riucijiale  (.Main  Street)  and  La  Kue  de  L'Egli.se  (Second  Street). 
There  were  few  buildings  tiien  on  Third  Street.  Tlic  lilock  where  the 
rianters  Hotel  now  stands  was  a  comuHUi  i)asture  for  the  village  cows. 
Several  cross  streets,  thirty  I-'rench  feet  in  width,  had  by  this  time  been 
]>latted,  as  is  indicated  by  the  accompanying  map.  Kue  de  bi  Tom- 
I  Walnut  Street)  was  liien  the  main  thoroughfare  leading  back  from 
.Main  Street  to  the  fort  on  the  bill  at  Fourth  and  Walnut  Streets,  where 
tile  Southern  Hotel  now  stands.  .Most  of  the  tow  n  was  siuitb  of  .Mai-ket 
Street. 


20  A    CITY    IT-AX     lOR    SAINT    LOUIS. 

Up  to  this  time  The  village  hiid  im  legal  boundaries,  unless  the  out- 
lines of  the  old  S]iiinish  fortifications,  as  shown  on  the  map  of  17(!4  and 
which  were  never  completed,  conld  lie  called  l(>gal.  Not  even  were  the 
lionndarv  lines  between  the  individual  holdings  well  detincd.  In  1S(I.~) 
a  Board  of  Commissioners  was  a]i]»ointe(l  to  ascertain  and  adjust  all 
<|Ui'stions  of  land  titles  i;rowing  out  of  the  early  sysiciii  of  making 
verbal  grants. 

In  180!)  the  "Town  of  St.  Louis"  was  duly  incorjioralcd  liv  tlic  ( 'onrt 
of  Common  Pleas.  Its  limits  as  stated  in  the  articles  of  incoipoiation 
were:  "negiuTiing  at  Antoine  Ray's  mill  on  the 
St.  Louis  in  1809.  bauks  of  the  .Missi.ssijijii  (  now  the  foot  of  Fraid<liu 
Avenue),  thence  running  west  sixty  aijicnts  (to 
IJroadwayi.  ilieme  south  on  a  line  of  said  .si.xty  arpents  in  the  rear, 
until  the  same  crosses  the  TSarrier  Des  Xoyer  (about  Chouteau  Avenue), 
thence  due  south  until  it  comes  to  the  Sugar  Loaf  (  Fifth  and  Kutger 
Streets),  thence  due  east  (along  Rutger  Street)  to  the  ilississippi 
River."  The  population  at  this  time  wa.s  estimated  to  be  1,200.  Mr. 
I'dllon,  in  his  history  of  early  St.  Louis,  describes  the  town  as  he  first 
•saw  it  in  1800: 

"There  had  been  little  change  in  the  surface  of  the  ground  from 
its  first  .settlement  in  1764,  a  period  of  nearly  forty  years.  *  *  * 
The  river-front  presented  at  that  day  a  limestone  bluff  extending 
from  abotit  the  foot  of  I'oplar  Street  on  the  south  to  above  Roy's 
Tower  at  the  foot  of  Ashley  Street  on  the  north.  *  *  »  There 
were  but  two  roads  ascending  from  the  river  to  Main  Street,  viz., 
at  Market  and  Oak  Streets.  These  ascents  were  very  abrui»t  and 
rough,  (|uarried  through  the  limestone  rock  by  the  early  iidiab- 
itants  witli  crow-bars  and  hamniei-s  to  enable  them  to  get  to  the 
river  for  water.  ♦  *  *  There  was  no  Fourth  Street  south  of 
Elm.  *  *  *  South  of  this  it  was  but  a  road  with  two  or  three 
hou.ses." 

In  1811  the  limits  of  tlie  village  were  slightly  changed  so  as  to  extend 
along  Broadway  to  ^lill  Creek  A'alley,  thence  down  the  creek  to  its 
mouth.  In  r.rackenridge's  "Views  of  Louisiana."  written  at  this  time, 
we  have  a  pen  ])icTure  of  the  town  as  it  apiteared  in  isll.  In  this 
sketch  he  says : 

"The  town  is  built  between  the  river  and  a  second  l>ank,  three 
streets  ninuing  ]iarallel  with  the  river,  and  a  number  of  othei-s 
crossing  them  at  right  angles.  It  is  to  be  lament<'d  that  no  s]»ace 
has  been  left  between  the  town  and  the  riAer.  For  the  sake  of 
the  ]>leasnre  of  the  ])romenade.  as  well  as  for  business  and  health. 


HISTnliKAI.   SKKTIH.  21 

there  should  luivc  liccti  no  ('ncroaclmicnt  on  the  niai-ijin  of  the 
nolile  stream.  *  *  *  How  dillVi-cnt  wonltl  liavc  lii'on  its  aj)- 
jx-arancc  if  Itnill  in  the  same  ciciianl  manner,  its  liosom  opened 
to  the  breezes  of  the  river,  the  stream  enlivened  by  scenes  of 
business  and  pleasure,  and  rows  of  elesiant  and  tasteful  dwcllinirs 
looking  \\itli  pride  on  the  liroad  wave  that  passes."     »     *     * 

"St.  Louis  is  the  seat  of  government  of  the  Territory  and  has 
always  been  considered  the  chief  town.  *  *  *  This  jilace  oc- 
cupies one  of  the  best  sirualiniis  mi  the  .M ississijipi.  l»oth  as  to  site 
and  geoiirapliical  jiosition.  »  *  *  jj  j^  pmliably  not  saying 
too  much  that  it  bids  fair  to  be  second  to  Ne^\■  Orleans  in  impor- 
tance on  this  river." 

The  tiiw  II  grew  slowly  from  1S((4  to  isli',  adding  only  now  and  then 
a  new  house  or  a  few  addilional  settler.s.     But  the  results  of  tin-  war 

of  1S12  and  the  general  revival  of  trade  and  interest 
The  First  '"  ^'''^  Middle  West  gave  a  new  impetus  to  St.  Loui.s. 

Subdivisions.      l''V  ISlfi  the  population  had  increased  to  3,000,  .so  that 

the  residences  and  shops  could  no  longer  be  confined 
to  the  three  north  and  south  streets.  In  .May  of  that  year  Colonel 
Augnste  Chouteau  and  Judge  J.  I>.  ('.  Liuas  opened  the  first  sub- 
division "on  the  hill,"  extending  from  Fourth  to  Seventh,  and  from 
St.  Charles  to  S])ruce  Streets.  This  addition  contained  some  fifty 
acres.  The  streets  in  the  new  subdivision  were  made  much  bi-oailer 
than  the  oiiginal  ones  and  crossed  each  other  at  right  angles.  In  this 
same  year  the  town  of  North  St.  Louis  was  laid  out.  Here  were  located 
a  lunnber  of  mills,  whicli  aideii  miiili  ilie  early  development  of  a  con- 
siderable town,  other  towns  grew  u])  about  St.  l-ouis.  and  b\-  1S21 
theii  cond)ine(l  ])o]udations  amounted  to  !),732  jx-rsons — the  town  of 
St.  Louis  containing  5,500  of  this  number. 

The  til  St  (lirecioi\  jiublished  in  this  year  contains  an  interesting 
descii]ption  of  the  town  as  it  then  appeared: 

"Eight  streets  run  parallel  with  the  river  and  are  intersected 
by  twenty-three  others  at  right  angles.  Three  of  the  preceding 
are  in  the  lower  iiart  of  the  town  and  the  five  others  in  the  u])per 
]»arl.  Tlic  streets  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town  are  mirrow,  being 
from  thirty-two  to  thirty-eight  and  one-half  feet  in  width;  tho.sc 
streets  on  "the  hill"  or  u])iter  i)art  are  much  wider.  'The  hill"  is 
mmh  the  most  pleasant  and  .salubrious,  and  will,  no  doubt,  become 
the  most  im])roved.  The  lower  end  of  .Market  Street  is  well  i>ave<l. 
and  the  trust(M's  of  tlie  town  have  ])assed  an  ordinance  for  ])aving 


22 


A    CITY    rr.AX     FOU    SAINT    LOl'IS. 


of  tlic  si(lc\\;ilks  nf  .Main  Sii-cri.  Iicinj;  the  second  from  and  parallel 
to  tli(  liver,  and  I  lie  iiriiuiiial  one  for  Imsiness.  This  is  a  very 
wliolesoiiie  reiiiilatioii  ol  (lie  trustees,  and  is  tlie  inoi'e  necessary 
as  this  and  many  other  sti-eets  are  sometimes  so  extremely  muddy 
as  to  l)e  rendered  almost  impassahle. 

"It  is  to  he  hoped  that  the  trustees  will  next  pave  tlie  middle 
of  .Main  Street,  and  that  they  will  proceed  <iradiiallv  to  imjirove 
tlie  other  streets,  which  will  contrilmte  to  make  the  town  more 
healthy,  aihl  to  the  value  of  jiroix'rty  and  make  it  a  desiraldc  i)lace 
of  residence.  On  the  hill,  in  the  center  of  the  town,  is  a  jmlirK- 
s(|iiaie  24(1  liy  :!(l(l  fret  I  ]iresent  Court  House  block  |,  on  which 
it  is  iniendc<l  to  i)uild  an  elegant  Court  House.  The  various 
coni'ts  are  held  at  i)resent  in  Iniildiniis  ad.jaceiit  to  the  I'uhlic 
Scpiare.  A  new  stone  jail  id'  two  stories,  seventy  feet  front  li.v 
thirty  feet  deej),  stands  west  of  the  site  for  the  Court  House. 

".Market  Street  is  in  the  middle  cd'  the  town,  and  is  the  line 
dividinii  the  north  jiart  from  the  south.  Those  sti'eets  riinnini; 
north  from  .Market  Street  have  the  addition  <d'  North  to  their 
names,  ami  those  i-unnin.i;  in  the  o]i]>osite  direction  South.  The 
houses  were  tirst  numlu'red  liy  the  imhiisiier  (d'  this  directcu-\  in 
.Alav,  1821." 


CiTV  Limits  ix   1822.     Few  Hoc.^k.-^  West  of  Seventh  Street. 


The  followinji  year,  Hecemher,  ISi'i',  witnessed  the  incorporation  of 
St.  Louis  as  a  city  with  its  limits  detineil  as  follows:     "That  all  that 

district  of  country  cimlained  within  the  followinii 
St.  Louis  limits,  to-wit :  hejiinniu!.;  at  a  jxiint  in  the  middle  of  the 

Incorporated  main  channid  of  the  .Mississippi  Ixiver,  due  east  td'  the 
1822.  southern  end  of  a  hridi;e  across  .Mill  ( 'reek,  at  the  lower 

end  i'{  the  low  n  of  St.  Louis,  thence  due  west  to  a  point 
at  which  the  western  line  of  Seventh  Street,  extended  southwardly,  will 
intei-sect  the  same;  thence  northwardly,  alon<i-  the  western  side  of  Sev- 


HlSTOIilCAL   SKETCH.  21 

clltll  Street,  ;lll(l  ((illtiimillg  ill  Ihilt  ((Ull-se  to  ;l  point  due  west  of  tlie 
iioitlieni  side  of  Koy's  Towel*;  riieiit-e  due  east  to  the  middle  of  the  main 
chauiiel  of  the  ]{iver  .Mississijn)! ;  thence  with  the  niiddh!  of  llie  niaiii 
channel  of  said  river  to  the  hej;iniiiug;  shall  be,  and  is  herein',  erected 
into  a  city,  iiy  the  name  ot  tln'  cil\  of  St.  Lonis."  The  total  area  in- 
cluded within  these  limits  was  a  little  move  than  385  acre.s. 

rp  to  this  time  little  attention  had  heen  iiiven  hy  the  people  to  the 
stieet  plan  of  the  city,  and  practically  none  to  huildiuii  line  rciiulations. 
The  iilattiuii  of  streets  had   been   left   to  those   who 
Early  Street  opened  new  subdivisions,  and  a  uniform  buildiini  line 

Improvements.  seems  not  to  have  ap])ealed  to  ihem  as  even  a 
necessary  convenience.  l>ut  now  that  the  town  had 
becouH  a  city  with  a  ]>opiilation  of  almost  (),(IO(l  peojde,  the  citizens 
became  aroused  to  the  necessity  of  some  rei;ulations.  Accordintily,  in 
1828  the  first  Hoard  of  Aldermen  api)ointed  a  committee  to  "in(|uire 
into  the  trtie  situation  of  the  streets,  lanes  and  alleys  of  the  city."  auil 
to  recommend  simie  "pi-inciide  ujion  wliich  said  streets,  lanes  and  alleys 
shall  be  ])ermanently  tixed."  The  committee,  after  iiivesti|:;ation.  madi' 
a  icjiort  in  which  they  stated  that  the  width  of  the  oriiiinal  streets 
was  thiity  feet  (  I'lcnch  measure  i.  while  that  of  the  later  subdivisions 
was  thirty-six  feet.  They  pointed  out  that  little  reuard  had  lieeii  paid 
to  sticet  lines  li\  builders,  and  that  in  numerous  instances  buildinjis 
and  fences  extended  consideiably  beyond  these  lines.  To  remedy  these 
conditions  the  committee  recommended  that  a  new  survey  be  made  and 
that  property  owners  be  com}»elled  to  conform  to  established  lines. 
It  is  unroi-lnnate  that  this  committee  did  not  look  fuitliei-  into  the 
future  ol  the  city  and  recouimeiid  at  that  eaily  date  the  adojilion  of 
a  street  i>lan  which  would  have  estalilished  broad  and  conxciuent  liiuh- 
ways  extendinii  in  all  directions  from  the  heart  (d'  the  business  district. 

This  first  I'.oard  of  Aldermen  jiassed  an  ordinance  f(U'  the  ])a^■iI\^^■ 
of  a  few  streets  and  re(piirin,ii  jtroperty  t)\vners  to  pave  the  sidewalks 

in  front  of  their  property.  Prior  to  the  incorporation 
First  Street  "I  'be  city  sexcral  attempts  jiad  iieen  made  to  cover 
Paving".  the  ••unfathiunal)le  mud   of  St.    Louis,"   bin    the  un]iro- 

;ii-essi\-e  ]H)rtion  of  the  iiduibitanis  had  been  able  to 
defeat  those  ellorts.      I'.y  ISi".)  a  number  of  streets  had  been  i)aved. 


24  A  crrv  i-lan  lou  saint  louis. 

Tlic  iiaiiiinji  of  streets  was  next  considered.  Previous  to  lS(t!»  tlie 
old    Fi'(MkI)    uanies   had    iteen    retained.      From    1800    to   1820   streets 

rnuuinfi;  east  and  west  iiail  liirn  known  liy  tiie  letters  of 
Naming- of  llie  alphahet  willi  liie  preti.x  imrtli  and  s(>\itli  i  nt'  .Market 
Streets.  Street  i    attaciicd.      in    ISlMj    an    ordinance    was    ])assed 

Iciiallv  cstaldisiiiun  .Market  Street  as  tlie  dividinj;-  line 
lietwci'U  llie  nnrlli  and  soutli,  naniini;  tlie  north  and  sunth  streets  hy 
nnnil)crs  and  llic  cast  and  west  si  reels  after  the  names  nf  trees,  aceord- 
\u'j,  ti:  Mil'  riiiladel|ilna  plan. 

'I'jie  years  from  ISlT)  to  1S40  were  years  of  prosperity  and  rapid 
liTowth   for  St.  Louis.     The  city  in   1830  extemh'd  aliout   a  mih*  and 

a  half  alonj;  the  river-frout  and  ahout  a  half  mile  back 
From  from  Jlain  Street.     Yet  the  whole  city  might  have  been 

1825  to  1840.     packed  twice  over  within   the  present  area  of  Forest 

I'ark.  In  1833  the  John  I>.  C.  Lucas  addition  lietween 
Seventh  and  Ninth,  ilarket  and  St.  Charles,  was  opened.  In  183(i  the 
Sonlard  addition  bounded  by  Park  and  ( leyer  Avenues,  the  river  and 
('arondelet  Avenue;  the  O'l'allon  adilifion  Ix'tween  Seventh  and  Fiuiith 
Streets,  Wasliiujiton  and  Franklin  Avenues,  and  tlie  ("liristy  addition 
from  Ninth  to  Twelfth  Streets  between  Franklin  and  Lucas  Avenues, 
were  |iiil  on  tlie  niarki'l.  In  1838  and  1830  severa4  other  ;idditions 
were  ojiened.  All  of  this  ex)iansion  and  extension  of  streets  took  jilai-e 
with  seeminj'ly  little  thon^iihl  that  these  improvements  should  follow 
a  well-defined  plan.  No  one  seeme<l  to  peer  into  the  future  and  .see 
how  nianv  of  the  present  defects  in  the  city  plan  miglit  have  been 
avoided  by  a  little  foresijiht  on  the  ])art  of  the  inhal)itants  of  1S4II. 
From  18.",0  to  1S40  the  ]io])ulation  increased  threefcdd,  reaching  in  the 
latter  vear  Hi,l(i!t,  imt  the  city  extended  only  a  little  beyond  Seventh 
Street.  P.eyond  that  point  along  Washington  Avenue,  which  was  then 
the  choice  residence  street,  nunu'rous  .scattered  honi(>s  bad  liei'ii  built 
on  th(>  iirairies. 

The  dire(,-tory  of  1838  indicates  the  general  tone  of  prosperity-  wliicli 
characterized  this  decade  of  the  citN's  history: 

"The  \ast  number  of  buildings  which  wi're  erected  last  season 
and  this  year  have  extende<l  the  city  much  beyond  its  chartered 
limits,  and  the  general  ju'essure  in  ccnnmercial  tran.sactions  has 
not  in  the  least  retarded  the  improvement  of  St.  Louis.  The  in- 
ducements to  build  u](  the  citv  are  as  strong  as  ever,  consisting  in 
the  continued  high  rents  and  the  great  and  increasing  demand  for 


HISTOIJKAI.   SKETCH.  i5 

flwelliii,2;s,  Ijiisincss  limiscs  iiiiil  offices.  Heavy  lnisines.s  operations 
arc  driviiifi'  tin-  retail  dealers  liaek  froiii  Front  and  from  ^lain  or 
l-'irsl  Streets,  and  i)ro|ierty  in  tlie  liaek  streets,  cross  streets  and 
in  some  of  ilie  alleys,  is  increasini:  in  value  to  an  iin|(arallellcd 
extent. 

•'From  the  point  wlicrc  tlic  most  active  business  centers,  the  city 
is  e.xtemlinu  ii](  and  down  tlie  rixcr  and  liack  from  its  mariiin  so 
steadily  and  the  jx-rmam-nce  of  the  structures  are  such  as  to  i;ive 
promise  of  resultinji  in  the  tine  tinish  of  one  of  the  most  ]ioptiIous 
ami  M|)nlcnt  cities  in  the  Union.     •     *     * 

"A  county  road  has  been  ordered  to  run  from  the  ferrv  landini: 
hack  into  the  interior  of  the  county.  These  pndiminaix  works 
are  iiiicmled  to  pave  the  way  to  those  ultimate  iniprovemenls  w  hidi 
will  extend  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  at  no  distant  day,  to  that  hiiih, 
heautiful  tract  of  country  enihra<-ed  in  South  St.  i^ouis.  which, 
about  two  years  ago,  was  laid  out  into  avenues,  streets  and  lots 
in  antici])ation  of  such  extension. 

"The  opinion,  however,  prevails  jjenerally  that  the  i^reat  manu- 
facturing district  of  St.  Louis  will  be  sotitli  of  tln^  ]»reseut  improved 
part  of  the  city.  This  inii)ressiou  arises  from  the  appan-nt  cer- 
tainty tliat  the  iron  ^Mountain  Kailroad  will  terminate  or  liegin 
on  tli(   river  lielow,  or  at  the  lower  extremitx  of  the  citv." 


CiTv  I,i\OTS  IX  I841.     Western  Bocndary,  Abolt  Eighteenth  Street. 


In  1881*  the  lioundaries  of  the  city  were  slightly  changed  in  order 
to  nmke  them  more  nearly  straight.     Two  years  later  1 IS^]  )  tliey  were 
extended,   so   as   to    iiulmh'   North    St.    Louis.   St. 
Limits  Extended      <ieorge.  Ceulral  St.  Louis  and  a  number  of  smaller 
1841.  additions  on  (he  north  and  south.     The  new  bound- 

aries of  1S41,  which  contiinu'd  to  be  the  limits  tintil 
185.").  were,  bi-ictly  stated:  beginning  at  the  foot  of  Wyoiuiug  Street. 
thence  west  along  ^y\•omin^  Street  to  ("arondelet  Avenue,  iheiu-e  ahnni- 


26  A    iVV\    ri-.\.\     FOK    SAINT    LOUIS. 

( 'nroiidclrl  A\('inu'  to  ( 'lumlcini  Avcmic  Ihciicc  due  iiurlli  in  I  duk 
Street  at  the  lliotltll  of  Stonv  <'l-eek,  tliellce  due  east  aloili;  Dock  Street 
to  tlie  rivei.  Tlie  total  area  within  the  city  limits  was  then  ahout 
four  and  one-half  s(inare  miles. 

\'<y  1S44  the  |)o]in]at  ion  had  inniped  to  :'>4.14(t.  and  accoi-<linLi  to  llie 
(lirector\'  of  184.")  "was  increasing  laoi-e  ra]>idl,v  than  any  town  of  its 

dimensions  iu  the  Union."  Dnrinii,  these  years 
St.  Louis  Becoming  niany  new  additions  \\ere  opened  and  sold.  I5y 
a  Metropolis.  1N.')0   the   ]io](nlation   liad    increased    to   77,S(i(t. 

An  extensive  sewer  system  was  ado|)ted.  street 
ini])roveni('nts  beitan  to  mceive  more  attention,  oninilms  lines  were 
cons(»lidated  and  the  city  liciian  to  assnme  the  ways  of  a  metropolis. 
It  was  ex]>andin,ii  so  ra]>i<liy  to  tiie  west  that  in  1S52  the  iidiahilants 
residin;.;  in  the  disii-ict  iietwcen  the  cit\  limits  ial)out  IOij;liteenth 
Street  I  and  (!rand  Avenue  to  the  west  formed  a  "Second  .Mnnicipalit v 
of  St.  i-onis."  The  incorjioration  of  this  new  municipality  into  the 
city  pro])er  was  tlie  issue  of  I  lie  (dectioii  of  1S.~)8,  and  also  of  IS.'i.'i  when 
the  Stale  Legislature  authoi-ized  the  extension  of  tlie  city  limits  so  as  to 
iuclndi    this  and   other  suliurhau   towns. 

This  act  of  is.").")  increased  the  area  of  the  city  from  four  and  (Uie- 
half  square  miles  to  sexcnti'en  s(|iiare  miles  ami  alisorhed  tlie  towns 
(d'  Second  St.  Louis  and  r.remeii,  tlie  villages  of  Fl(u-<'iice  and  Miiih- 
laiids,  and  a  nuiiilier  cd'  populous  additions  to  tlie  west  and  south.  The 
new   lioundaries  of  the  cit\    were  as  follows: 

"All  liiat  district  of  connlry  situated  in  the  counlv  of  St.  Louis, 
embraced  within  the  lollowinu  limits,  to-wit  :  Iteiiinninu  at  a 
point  in  the  middle  ol  Hie  main  cliaunel  of  the  .Mississi])pi  Uiver 
wher(  the  conlinuat  ion  ol  the  south  side  of  Keokuk  Street  east- 
ward! v  would  intersect  .said  main  channel;  theiice  wcstwardlv  l)y 
the  said  line  of  the  south  side  of  K'eokuk  Street  to  a  point  (Will  feet 
west  (d  (irand  Avenue;  thence  northwardly,  and  parallel  to  said 
(Irand  or  Lindell  Avenue,  at  a  distance  of  (i(i()  fe(4  therefrom, 
until  it  intei-sects  the  Itellefontaine  Koad  ;  thetice  northeast  to  the 
line  dividinii  iownslii]is  forty-tive  and  forty-six  north,  rauije  seven 
east  ;  thence  easiwardly  with  the  .said  line  and  in  the  same  direc- 
ti(Ui  to  the  niid<lle  of  the  main  chainud  of  the  .Mississipjii  Uiver; 
tlieiHc  southwardly  with  the  nieaiiderini;s  of  the  main  channel  of 
sai<l  riv<'r  to  the  place  (d'  Icuinninjj,,  is  hei-eliy  incoi-porated  into  a 
citv  l»v  the  name  of  'The  ("itv  of  St.  Louis.'" 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH. 


27 


The  city  cDiitinucd  in  cxiuiihI  laiiiillv  into  this  new  area,  particnlai-ly 
Id  tlic  west  and  soutliwcsl.    New  streets  and  nunienms  sulidivisinns  were 
oitened.     Tiie  political  excitenieut  of  the  ten  years 
First  Street  Cars      piceedini;  the  outln-eak  of  the  Civil  War  seemed 
in  1859.  lo  have  little  elfect  on  its  rapid  orowth.     By  1S60 

tlic  populalion,  according  to  the  T'nitcd  Slates 
Census,  had  increased  nioi-c  than  100  ]ter  cent  in  ten  years,  rcarhinii- 
in  that  year  1S5,58T.     The  year  ])receding  (  LSoO  i   saw   the  tii-si   street 


SiicwiNG  City  Limits  of  1S55  Xear  Grand  Avenue,  and  Present  Limits 

Established  in  1876. 


car  line  built  under  the  direition  of  .Mr.  I-2rastus  Wells,  lather  of  the 
present  Mayor.  The  tracks  were  laid  along  Olive  Street  from  I'^onrth 
to  Twelfth  Streets,  and  the  tirst  trii>  of  the  horse-car  was  altend<'d  witli 
great  enthusiasm.  During  the  same  year  the  Hroadway  line,  cxicuding 
from  the  city  limits  at  Dock  Street  on  the  north  to  the  limits  at  K'cokuk 
Street  on  the  south;  the  Franklin  Avenue  line,  from  Fourth  Street 
to  Garrison  Avenue;  the  Chouteau  Avenue  line,  along  Chouteau  Avenue 
lo  St.  Ange  Avenue;  were  all  hnilt  and  the  old  omnibus  lines  on  these 
streets  abolished. 


28  A    CITY    ri.AN     FOl!    SAINT    LOT'IS. 

Hut   :lll   (if  this  l;l|)i(l  m-i(\\tli   \\;is  clicckcd   hy   tllc  nlltlilCMk  (if  ll(»-<tili- 

ti<'s  in  ISdttiUKi  tiio  rldsiiii;  nf  the  river  to  rrallio.  f^t.  i.diiis,  sitiiiHcd  ;is 
it  \v;is  (HI  tlic  hdi-dcr  iiinl  \vitli  a  popuiiitiou  radicallv 

Outbreak  of       di\'i(i('(i    in    sciiiinicnt    lictwccu   the   North   and    Sontli. 

Civil  War.  wa-^  nol    in   liic  nnxid   lioni    ISdd  to  18(i4  to  foster  the 

same  rapid  deNciopnienl  wliicli  cliaracteri/.ed  llie  decade 

Ix'lore  the  war.     The  one-hundrediii  anuixcrsary  of  its  fonndiii^  came 

at  an  in()|i|iortunc'  time  to  ajiiireciate  the  iiroi)li('('v  of  its  founder  w  lien 

lie  declared    "Tiiis  sellhMiienl    shall    liec(mie  one  of  the   tinest    cities   ill 

Amei-ica." 

The  period  of  ]Hdsperity  followiuii  the  <  'ivil  War  saw  tlie  city  rapidly 
extended  in  all  dii-ections,  hut  aloini'  the  already  established  lines.    Ne\\- 

additions  and  snhdixisions  were  o](ened  and  s(dd,  l)nl 
Since  the  War.    the  i)lan  of  the  streets  was  naturally  adajtted   to  the 

already  e.\istiu>i-  highways.  The  city's  limits  in  IStiT 
were  extended  so  as  to  include  the  town  (d'  Carondelet,  and  in  INTO 
the\  were  pusjied  far  west  to  the  Kixcr  Desl'eres  and  SUiid<er  IJoad. 
Already  estahlished  tliorouiihfares  were  ]irojected  westward  into  llie 
unhnilt  district,  hut  the  time  had  passed  when  a  well-direcled  plan 
of  street  airain;cmeiil  conid  lie  adopted.  The  direction  of  the  city's 
i^i'ow  th  and  its  general  arranucmenl  wei-e  already  well  determined,  and 
only  the  direst  necessity  will  lie  aide  to  altei-  their  direction  except  in 
slijiht  details. 

No  mention  has  lieen  made  of  one  of  the  most  essential  features  of 
a  city  plan,  namely:  parks  and  open  spaces.     St.  Louis,  in  the  early 

days,  had,  of  course,  little  need  for  parks.  The 
History  of  Parks,      outlyiuii   prairies  and    forests   furnished   alumdant 

opportunities  for  recreation.  As  late  as  1S4I>,  with 
the  limits  extending  only  to  Seventli  Street,  tln-re  was  little  need  of 
park  land.  Chouteau's  I'ond  in  Mill  ('reek  Valley,  where  now  stands 
('ujiples'  Station,  furnished  facilities  for  rowing  and  ti.shing,  and  Lucas 
(iroN'e  to  the  west  was  a  natural  jiark  on  tlu'  outskirts  of  tlie  city. 
Yet  as  early  as  ISli;,  \\lien  ( 'ongress  authorized  the  sale  of  the  ("om- 
nions  and  ("ommon  Fields  for  school  pur])Oses,  land  for  three  park.s 
was  reserved,  nanndy:  Dakota  Park,  (Iravois  Park  and  I>a(dede  I'ai-k. 
In  INK)  three  citizens  jiresented  to  the  city  laud  for  a  church,  .school  and 
public  jiark.  In  1S4(I  Washington  S(|uare,  now  occupi(xl  by  the  City 
Hall,  was  purduised  by  the  city  with  the  understanding  that  it  should 
be  used  as  a  ]iulilic  s(piare  forever.      In  lS4l*  < 'arr  S(iuare  was  donated 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  29 

to  tlic  citv  l),v  Will.  ( '.  ('iii-i-.  Ill  1S14  Lafayette  I'ai-k  was  at<|iiii-(Ml  liv 
piurlia.sc  fi-oiii  the  old  ( 'oiiiiiikms.  Im  ISdt  Ilvdc  I'ark  was  imi-cliascd 
and  ^[issdiiri  I'aik  crcalcd  \>y  oi-diiiaiicc  In  islKi  Ilnildn  I'aik  was 
ac-(|nii-cd  hy  |innliasc.  In  1S71  l.yon  I'ark  was  transl'crrcd  to  ihc 
cify  1(\'  the  War  Hcitarl  iiirnl,  and  in  1S74  Ihc  llircc  lai'i;cr  |>arks,  l^'orcst, 
O'Fallitn  and  ( 'arondrlci,  were  ]iin'<-liascd  nndcr  ad  of  llic  Slalc  Lcnis- 
latnro. 

This  l)rief  liistorical  skctcli  will  ilhistratc  in  a  slit;lit  dcLircc  (lie 
absence  thronf^liont  its  history  ol'  a  wcll-eonsidered  plan  to  ,unid<'  I  he 
growth  of  tlii.s  city.  If  a  l/lCnfanI  had  lieen  called  in  consultation 
early  in  the  ceutnry,  and  a  coin|;rcli('nsi\c  plan  had  been  agreed  upon 
with  due  attention  to  ojien  spaces,  attractiAc  s(piares,  and  liroad  radi- 
ating tlioronghfares,  St.  Louis,  with  iier  topographical  advantages  and 
location,  might  have  heconie  a  far  more  attractive  city  tlmn  it  i.s  today. 
It  is  not  yet  too  late  to  protit  from  ]iasi  exjiericnce  ami  jilaii  wisely  for 
the  future  (ireater  St.  Louis. 


A  Public  Buildings  Group 


REPORT  OF  THE   PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  COMMISSION 

ST.  l.oriS,  al  lliis  liiiic,  lias  an  ()|i|)ni-t  iinil  y  which  schh>iii  coincs  to 
a  hiri;c  city  to  carry  oiil  a  iiiainniticcnt  sclicinc  for  the  <>Toni)iiii;' 
of  licr  i)uhlic  hiiildiiiiis,  and  to  cstahlish  for  h(M*solf  an  archi- 
Icclnral  center  wliicli  for  all  time  will  ]»lace  her  anionji' the  first  of  cities 
famed  for  the  di;Linity  and  L;randeiir  of  her  mnnicipal  hnildini;s  iircnip. 
Two  million  dollars  have  heeii  voted  hv  the  ]K'o])le  for  a  new  ("onri 
Tlonse.  .lail,  I'olice  Conrts  and  Health  1  )eiiartment  ;  and  the  Liltrary 
I'.oard  is  idanniny  the  erectinji  of  a  .$1, .")()(),( 10(1  lihrary  huildinji.  These 
structnres  will  fnrnisji  a  nucleus  for  an  admirahle  group  center  in  the 
heart  of  the  future  business  district. 

The  advantages  to  h(  derived  from  a  j^Kiupiui;  (d'  jiuhlic  and  (|uasi- 
IMihlic  hnildin,i;s  are  seveial  :      I'irst,  i(    fuiiiislies  an  opportunity  for 

harmonious  treatment  and  architectural  effects 
Why  Group  whicli  can  he  secured  only  hy  oroupinji  the  huild- 

Public  Building's?       ini^s    alioul     a    common    court    or    .s(iuare.      Each 

Imilding  in  the  group  eontrihutes  its  share  to  the 
dignity,  heautv  and  attractiveness  of  every  other.  Unrelated  huihlings. 
however  imposing  they  nniy  lie  in  th<'Uis(>lves,  lose  much  of  their 
elfectiveness  liy  standing  alone.  Se<-ond.  the  groii])ing  of  pulilic  Ituild- 
ings  will  gn'atly  facilit.nte  public  Imsiness,  which  means  economy  to 
the  entire  ])eo]ile.  Third,  they  will  serve  as  a  s]dendid  example  of  tlie 
advantages  to  he  gaiuod  hy  the  ])roper  arraugeuu'uts  of  Ituildings  about 
an  ojien  park  space,  wliich  will  have  its  iiitiueiice  on  all  sub.seciuent 
pri\ate  as  well  as  ]iublic  liuihling  ojierations  iu  the  city. 

Fortunately,  the  city  wisely  jilauned  for  this  im]irovement  scune 
thi-ee  years  ago,  when  the  rublic  lluildings  Uomniissiou  was  a]>]M)inted 

hv  the  flavor  to  jirejiare  a  comprehensive  .scheme 
Building's  Group  t'"'  massing  the  ])ub]ic  buildings  about  a  central 
Plans    Ready.  jiark  or  ])laza.     The  excellent  re])ort  of  that  Coni- 

niission,  slightly  moditied,  is  incor](orated  into  this 
report  with  the  hearty  endorsement  of  all  the  committees. 


x 


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X 


KEPOUT    OF    THIO    PUliLIC    BTILDINOS    COMMISSION.  31 

THE  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  COMMISSION'S  REPORT 

"Tvpcojiiiiziiig  tilt'  absolute  necessity  of  providiiiii'  at  onee  new  and 
adequate  quarters  to  replace  tlie  ])resent  Four  Courts  and  Jail,  as 
well  as  the  old  Court  House,  the  Connuission  lias  }>iven  its  attention 
to  a  study  of  the  most  economical  location  of  these  proposed  new 
l)uildin,£is,  with  due  rejiard  to  convenience,  provision  for  sr^^^vth  and 
dignity  of  arrangement  commensurate  with  the  metropolitan  character 
of  the  city. 

"In  this  connection,  the  Commission  decided  to  outline  two  schemes 
of  apparently  equal  merit.  In  any  such  scheme  it  was  natural  to  take 
the  present  City  Hall  as  a  starting  point  or  nucleus  of 
Plan  No.  1.  the  group;  the  next  natural  step  was  the  adoption  of 
Twelfth  Street  as  the  main  axis  upon  which  to  build  a 
group.  Moreover,  the  city  already  owns  the  site  of  the  Four  Courts, 
as  well  as  the  old  City  Hall  i)roperty.  So  the  Commission  laid  out 
a  jilan,  which  is  reproduced  in  this  re]iort,  showing  a  completeh' 
developed  municipal  court  terminal  ing  the  tine,  broad  apprdach 
furnished  by  Twelfth  Street. 

"A  group  of  municipal  buildings,  as  indicated  in  Plan  No.  1,  forming 
a  southern  extension  of  Twelfth  Street  and  o((ui)ying  property  largely 
now  in  the  possession  of  the  city,  suggests  itself  as  an  extremely 
desirable  arrangement,  both  for  the  convenience  of  the  conduct  of 
public  affairs,  and  for  the  presentment  of  a  dignified  architectural 
effect. 

"The  present  City  Hall  occupies  a  portion  of  Washington  Park, 
having  its  most  important  frontage  on  Twelfth  Street,  and  suggests 
the  propriety  of  a  court  building  of  corresponding  jjlan  and  size  on  the 
opposite  side  of  this  wide  thoroughfare. 

"The  small  blocks  between  Market  Street  and  Chestnut  Street 
should  be  acquired  and  devoted  to  smaller  buildings,  such  as  a  hall  for 
Public  Records  and  an  Historical  3Iuseum,  and  would  atl'cu'd  ample 
space  for  ](ublic  parking  and  surroundings  for  monniiiciital  buildings. 

"The  other  buildings  related  to  this  scheme  are  suggested  as  being 
devoted  to  a  Law  Library,  Executive  P.uilding,  Police  Department 
Il<'ad(|uarters,  Jail  Puilding,  Fire  Department,  Engine  House,  Morgue, 
and  other  municipal  purposes. 

"The  plan  also  indicates  the  proper  location  for  two  important 
monuments  or  fountains.     The  space  offers  an  unusual  opportunity  for 


32  A    CITY    l'I,AN     Vnil    SAINT    LOlIS. 

a  strictly  iiinin(i]);il  (lc\cln](iii('iit,  and  \\nul(]  form  a  tine  architectural 
picture. 

"Furthermore,  the  liuildiii^s  would  he  so  closely  relited  that  (liey 
would  fuiiiish  exceediuiily  convenient  intercourse.  They  miyht,  if 
necessary,  he  connected  h\'  undei-<iround  ])assaiu;es  or  suhways.  lighted 
hy  electricity,  and  they  might  all  he  heated  and  operated  from  a  central 
])lant."" 

"While  Plan  No.  1  seemed  natural  enough  and  entirely  feasilde  and 
ratioiml,  it  had  a  sufficient  numliei-  of  disadvantages  to  force  the 
•  'ommission  to  re-examine  the  ground  and  prejjare 
Plan  No.  2.  another  plan  for  comparison  with  it.  Twelfth  Street 
seems  to  he  es.seiitially  a  l)usine.ss  street,  and  its  present 
rapid  rale  of  develoimient  south  .should  not  he  retarded.  Furtlier,  the 
value  of  those  hloidcs,  needed  at  once,  is  high,  and  those  needed  in  a  few 
yeai's  for  fnither  de\"elo](nient  would  lie  liigli  ciiongh,  perhaps,  to  force 
the  ahandonment  of  the  adopted  ])lan.  Another  dra\\ha(d<  lies  in  the 
fact  that  the  Four  Courts  and  Jail  must  he  utilized  until  new  (piarters 
can  he  built,  and  therefore,  in  this  scheme,  the  new  Jail  building  would 
not  he  ]ilaced  wliere  it  belongs,  adjacent  to  the  new  Court  House. 
Again,  wliile  a  municijial  coui-t  would  tinis  be  constructed,  it  would  lie 
a  miniature  and  of  insufticient  si/,e  to  secure  a  dignified  coniposili(jn 
with  accessory  parking  as  a  setting. 

"Agreeing  that  the  ("ity  Hall  must  be  a  component  ]>art  of  any 
scheme,  another  i)lan  was  ])re])ared  |>lacing  it  on  the  east  of  an  axial 
line  drawn  north  and  south,  midway  between  Thirteenth  and  Four- 
teenth Streets.  Assuming  that  the  new  Public  Library  will  .some  day 
rest  on  this  adopted  axis,  the  Commission  conceived  the  ])lan  of 
re])lacing  old  Missouri  Park  by  o]ieuing  a  continuous  jiarkway  between 
Thirteentli  and  Fourteenth  Streets  from  Olive  Street  to  Clark  Avenue. 

"We  have  been  too  short-sighted  in  tlie  jiast  in  giving  np  these 
invaluable  breathing  sjiots  and  failing  to  ]irovide  others  to  fill  a  vei-y 
ai'tual  want.  Every  city  of  the  old  world  and  every  city  in  this  country 
which  has  had  time  to  think,  in  its  huriy  to  keep  abreast  of  mercantile 
progress,  is  now  <leA-oting  its  energies  and  vast  sums  of  money  to  the 
creating  of  jtarks  and  open  places.  Ilei-e  we  find  the  hajijjy  o])portunity 
of  thus  creating  a  public  blessing,  as  a  necessary  means  of  arriving  at 
a  jturely  [)ractical  end.  On  either  side  of  this  parkway  abutting  on 
Thirteenth  and  I'ourteenth  Streets,  from  Olive  Street  to  Clark  Avenue, 
opportunity  is  given  for  the  erection  of  nieiianrile  houses  \\hicli  could 


»■] 


REPORT  <)i'  Tin:  i-i  I'.i.ic  r.riLDixGS  commission.  33 

not  exist  on  those  streets  tOfliiy.  Imt  it  is  to  he  lioped  that  siicli  oppor- 
tiiiiities  as  are  here  picscntcd  loi-  jncarinji  (|nasi-|(iililic  lniihliniis,  sueli 
as  tlieaters,  music  halls,  hotels,  etc.,  will  not  he  overlooked.  Ndt  one 
first-elass,  or  even  second-class,  hnildiug  would  he  removed,  and  jiar- 
ticular  attention  is  called  to  the  class  of  huilding  and  the  tenantry 
wliich  wiMild  he  removed  hy  sncli  a  ]i(>althy  cleaninc;  out  as  is  proposed. 

"This  puhlic  parkway,  heautilied  with  monuments,  fountains, 
shaded  walks  and  heautiful  trees,  terminates  in  a  broad,  <icnerous  and 
imposin<;-  municipal  court  flanked  on  the  east  by  the  City  Hall  and  on 
the  west  hy  the  proposed  new  "Courts,"  while  adjacent  to  it  on  llu" 
south  is  located  the  new  -Tail,  the  offices  for  Poliee,  Fire  De]>artiiient. 
the  Moryue,  Dispensary,  and  the  necessary  detention  rooms.  On  the 
south  of  the  City  Hall  is  suggested  a  building  which  is  designed  to 
cover  the  recjuirements  of  growth  and  development  in  the  years  to  come. 
Thus,  for  the  same  reason,  has  the  Commission  seen  fit  to  reserve  for 
future  needs  and  future  construction  the  liuildings  shown  on  the  main 
axis  terminating  tlie  inuiiicipal  court,  tying  the  civic  group  together 
and  balancing  in  its  mass  and  majesty  of  location  the  beautiful  Library 
which  must  soon  occupy  the  magnificent  site,  and  which  will  stand 
ready  to  lend  itself  to  this  ])i-()posed  scheme  for  the  betterment  and 
uplifting  of  (mr  city. 

"The  C(mimission  has  had  the  benefit  of  the  judgment  of  two  of  our 
best  judges  of  realty  values  on  the  two  schemes  under  consideration. 

They  agree  that  the  actual  acquirement  of  land 
Cost  of  Land  for  ""t  »'i\^'  owned  by  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  essential 

Plans  Nos.  1  and  2.       t(»  Plan   No.   1    (the  Twelfth   Street   municii)al 

court),  would  cost  .f2,285,oG(),  while  the  actual 
aciiuirement  of  land  under  Plan  No.  2,  including  all  the  open  parkways 
and  sites  for  neAV  buildings,  would  amount  to  12,(571,308,  after  deduct- 
ing the  market  value  of  the  old  City  Hall  and  the  Four  ( 'ourts  property. 
The  parkway  alone  is  worth  millions  to  our  people  and  this  ])ark 
scheme  not  oidy  gives  tiie  desirable  ojien  sjiace  to  an  eiioniioiis  niiinlicr 
of  our  citizens  using  east  and  Avest  arteries  of  trafiic,  but  it  also  brings 
the  City  Hall  and  the  i)roposed  Courts  into  an  intimate  relationship 
with  the  heart  of  the  city  and  our  every-day  life,  \\  liich  few  of  us  have 
known. 

"St.  Louis  has  the  oi)portunity,  at  a  little  more  than  the  cost  of 
the  buildings,  which  are  an  immediate  necessity,  of  securing  a  breathing 
si)ace,  a  beauty  spot  and  a  scheme  for  present  grouping  and  future 
development,  of  A\hich  we  may  all  be  jn-oud. 


34  A    (ITV    IT. AN     rol!    SAIXT    LOIIS. 

"In  i)reseutin<i'  tlie  airuiiipiiiiviiig  report  vour  Commission  l)ep;s  to 
state  that  it  lias  propai'od  this  comprehensive  scheme  for  the  develop- 
ment of  the  city's  official  Ituildinc;  aloni2;  well-defined  lines,  not  with 
the  exjiectation  that  the  whole  jtrojcct  should  he  undertaken  uikUt 
one  administration,  hut  rather  with  a  view  to  so  place  the  hnildinj^s 
most  ur.ii-ently  required  at  the  present  time  as  to  start  a  ]dan  so 
ol)viously  advantajieous  that  in  years  to  come  succeedinc;  administra- 
tions will  recognize  the  desirahility  of  adding  to  and  tinally  completing 
the  jn-oject  prepared. 

"I'^or  th(>  present  the  Commission  suggests  the  erection  of  one 
building  of  the  size  of  the  present  City  Ilall,  placed  symmetrically 
thereto,  as  indicated  in  the  plans.  This  building 
First  Buildings  to  sboubl  contain  all  the  courts  now  using  the  Four 
Be  Erected.  <'ourts  and  old  Ccnirt  ITouse  buildings,  the  Police 

and  h^ire  Department  headijuarters.  Dispensary 
and  detention  rooms,  etc.,  and  adjacent  thereto  a  modern  Jail  building. 
The  Commission  has  cai-efully  estimated  the  total  cost  at  |2,725,000, 
subdivided  as  follows: 

".^lain  building  housing  all  departments.  .  . .f 2,22.",000  00 
":Modern  jail  building 500,000  00 

'*In  order  to  place  these  buildings  on  Twelfth  Street,  facing  the 
City  Hall,  as  .shown  in  I'lan  Xo.  1,  without  purchasing  any  other 
property  to  complete  this  scheme,  after  deducting 
Comparative  Cost  credits  from  the  sale  of  vacated  city  property, 
o!  Building's  would    cost,    as   estimated,    .^245,350,    or   a    total 

Under  Each  Plan.  immediate  expenditure  along  the  lines  of  Plan  Xo. 
1,  of  .f;2,l)70,3r)0.  In  placing  the.se  buildings  as 
shown  in  Plan  X'o.  2,  and  acquiring  all  the  land  lying  between 
Thirteenth  and  Fifteenth  ir^treets,  and  extending  all  the  way  from 
Chestnut  Street  to  Clark  Avenue,  after  deducting  credits  from  the  sale 
of  vacated  city  property,  leaves  a  slight  balance  in  favor  of  the  city  on 
the  credit  side,  or  a  total  immediate  ex])enditure  conforming  to  Plan 
Xo.  2,  of  a  trifle  less  than  .f2,725,000. 

"If  Plan  X'o.  2  is  followed,  it  not  only  gives  a  larger  amount  of 
property  for  future  develo])ment,  but  it  gives  a  i»romise  of  that  parkway 
projected  in  the  report,  completing  the  vista  from  the  new  Public 
I..ihi'ary  to  the  municipal  group  by  providing  at  once  a  very  large 
]>roportiou  of  this  proposed  ojK'n  spare  in  the  form  of  a  veritable  City 
Hall  Park. 


X 


Theater  Place,  Dresden. 


Natuinai,  MisEi'M,   Berlin. 
Slidwiny  till-  Artistic  Advantages  of  Broad  Plazas. 


inOI'ORT    OF    THE    I'TI'.LIC    P.Tir.DIXOS    COMMISSION.  35 

"No  one  reading  the  accompanying  report  can  fail  to  recognize  the 
inii)erative  need  of  expending  this  monej-  for  the  urgent  needs  of  the 
(lopartnieuts  which  it  is  proposed  to  house,  and  no  good  citizen  can 
(limbt  the  wisdom  of  expending  this  money  in  a  way  which  promises 
the  l)est  future  results  for  our  city. 

"Respectfully  submitted, 

"John  Lawrence  Mauran^  CJniinnini. 

"Wm.  S.  Eames, 

"Alp.ert  15.  tJitovES,  tSvcrchiri/." 

In  European  cities  the  grouping  of  public  buildings  about  a  central 
park  or  mall  has  become  the  rule  and  the  result  is  that  European  cities 
are  justly  famed  for  the  beauty  and  dignity  of 
Group  Centers  their  public  structures.     Paris  has  taken  the  lead 

in  European  Cities,  in  this  movement  in  the  building  and  arrange- 
ment of  its  numy  civic  centers,  such  as  the  Louvre 
and  Tuilleries  Garden.  Vienna,  with  its  "Ringstras.se"  in  the  heart 
of  the  city,  lined  with  imposing  public  and  (luasi-i)ublic  buildings, 
has  even  surpassed  Paris  in  the  grandeur  and  dignity  of  its  centers. 
r>erlin,  with  its  splendid  "Unter  den  Linden,"  furnishes  another 
ii(huirable  example  of  the  effectiveness  of  the  pi"oper  grouping  of 
museum,  theaters,  galleries,  statuary,  fountains  and  monuments  about 
a  central  park.  ^Moscow  with  its  "Kremlin,"  St.  Petersburg  with  its 
"Group  Center"  upon  the  Neva,  Brussels  with  its  "Grand  Place,"  are 
interesting  illustrations  of  the  same  principle.  Florence,  Venice,  An- 
twcr]).  Dresden,  and  a  score  of  other  cities,  might  be  mentioned  which 
have  realized  the  architectural  A^alue  of  providing  great  focal  points 
for  their  chief  public  edifices. 

Among  the  cities  of  this  country  there  is  being  manifested  a  strong 
desire  to  bring  together  public  buildings  and  to  locate  them  witli  a 

view  to  securing  greater  dignity  and  eifective- 
Group  Centers  ness,  as  has  been  pointed  out  in  the  statement 

in  American  Cities,      of  the  General  City  Plan  Committees.     St.  Louis 

has  a  plan  already  prei)ared  and  the  money 
a]i|>ropriated  to  erect  a  portion  of  tlie  buildings  contemplated  in  tlie 
report  of  the  Public  lUiildings  Commission.  Business  is  ra])idly  ex- 
tending westwai'd.  Twelfth  Street  will  soon  be  in  the  heart  of  the  retail 
district.  A  group  site  can  now  be  secured  at  a  comparatively  reason- 
able cost.      If  it  is  ])osl])oned  i-e;il  estiile  \;ilnes  will  increase  so  rapidly 


36  A    CITY    I'l.AN     I'OR    SAINT    LOlIS. 

Iliiit  tlic  ]mrcli;i.sc  of  the  1:111(1  will  lie  |)rii(t ically  out  of  the  (|M('siiuii. 
Under  no  circunistauoes  sliould  this  oj)]!!)]-! unity  of  establishing  a  focal 
center  for  ]iul»lic  editit-cs  be  permitted  to  ]»iiss.  It  is  not  so  iniportant 
that  Plan  No.  1  or  IMaii  No.  '2  of  the  <  "oiiiiiiissi()n"s  report  be  followed, 
Init  we  strongly  recommend  for  the  proper  grouping  of  ])nlplic  biiildiiigs 
the  adoj)tion  of  some  comjirehensive  scheme  of  sufficient  elasticity  to 
take  care  of  the  future  civic  development,  and  along  lines  similar  to 
those  suggested  in  the  re])ort  of  the  I'ublic  IJuildiiigs  ("ommission. 


Proposed  Municipal  Court  and  Public  Parkway 


Civic  Centers  for  Saint  Louis 


SMALLER   BUILDING   GROUPS 

THE  Un-m  ''Civic  ('cntci-,"  as  understood  by  this  committee,  refers 
not,  as  is  often  the  case,  to  auy  one  institution  wliich  may  sui)]dy 
some  of  the  needs  of  a  neijiliborhood,  hut  rather  to  the  groupinji' 
of  the  various  public,  semi-])ublic  and  private  institutions  wiiicli 
have  for  their  object  and  aim  tlie  mental,  moral  or  iihysical  improve- 
ment of  the  neiiihliorhood  in  which  they  are  located.  T'sed  in  this 
sense,  a  civic  center  would  comprise,  among  other  things,  a  public 
school,  parochial  school,  public  lil)rary  branch,  public  i)ark  and  play- 
ground, public  bath,  model  tenement,  social  settlement,  church,  homes 
of  athletic  or  social  organizations,  iKtIice  station  and  fire  engine  house. 
The  grouping  of  these  institutions  around  a  common  center  would 
be  a  distinct  beu(>tit  to  a  neighborhood.     It  would  center  the  interests 

of  the  people  in  the  neighborhood  and  would  enable 
Advantages  ^^**^  different  institutions  to  sni)plement  one  another. 

of  Civic  Centers.      I'^oi*  example,  it  would  enable  many  i)arents  to  use 

the  various  institutions  in  their  only  leisure  hours, 
the  evenings, by  leaving  their  children  in  the  playground  or  .social  settle- 
ment near  by,  whereas  otherw  ise  they  \\()uld  be  unable  to  leave  them 
alone  at  home;  it  would  give  a  splendid  opportunity  for  an  liarmonious 
architectural  and  landscape  treatment  of  the  various  buildings,  thus 
adding  to  the  intrinsic  beauty  of  each;  it  would  fo.ster  civic  pride 
in  the  neighborhood  and  would  form  a  model  for  im])rovement 
work,  the  influence  of  which  would  extend  to  every  home  in  the 
di.strict;  it  would  give  to  the  immigrant — ignorant  of  our  customs  and 
institutions — a  per.sonal  contact  with  the  higher  functions  which 
the  government  exercises  towards  him,  developing  his  interests  in 
municipal  activities  by  substituting  for  a  feeling  of  governmental 
antagonism  towards  liim.  as  inanitesied  in  the  only  municipal  institu- 
tion M'ith  which  he  is  lirought  in  contact — the  jwlice  station — a  feeling 
that  the  government  is,  after  all,  maintained  for  his  individual  well- 
being  as  well  as  for  that  of  the  native-born  inhabitant.  Lastly,  it 
would  develop  a  neighborhood  feeling,  which  in  these  days  of  specializa- 
tion lias  grown  weak,  witli  a  resulting  lack  of  interest  in  local  jiolitics 


38 


A  ciiv  ri,AN   von  sai.nt  i.oris. 


SOUTH    PARK   C0MM155I0NERS 

ARMOUR    SQUARE 

TYPICAL    OF     OTHER    SMALL    PARKS. 

CHICACO                 '   ■  -^       ■       T      T 
I I     I- 


A    CHICAGO    CIVIC    CENTER. 
One  of  the  Typical  Small  Parks. 


CIVIC    CKNTMUS    FOl!    ST.     I.OriS.  39 

and  the  consequent  coiTujition  jiikI  disrcuiird  of  tlic  hcst  interests  of 
the  jx'oplc  liy  tlicir  rciii'csciitntivcs. 

In  i)lunuiu,u'  tlicsc  vai-ious  civic  ccnlcrs  tlic  coniiuittcc  icit  Uiiit  it 
wonid  best  serve  its  ]iur])osc  liy  kcci)iiiii  in  mind  the  practical  i)ossil»ili- 
tics  of  realizing-  its  plans  ratlicr  llian   li.v  drawinj;; 
Plans  Limited  to      "!'  ""   'd<'al  ]ilan,  wliicli,   for  tlic  iin-scnl   at  least, 
$670,000.  would   lie  iiiipossihlc  of  acconii)!isIinicnt.      In  ]ilan- 

nin,n'  foi  ]iarks  we  lia\e  confined  ourseJNcs  williin 
the  limits  of  the  proposed  liond  issue,  assuminji-  .f(»7(>.0(HI  as  lieinji  Ihe 
niaxiniuni  amount  that  the  city  will  lie  able  to  speiiil  for  the  acquisition 
of  new  parks  in  the  near  future.  I'or  the  vai-ious  centers  su.^iii'sted, 
however,  we  feel  that  the  phin  is  fairly  complete  and  tiiat  it  can  easily 
be  elabcu-ated  in  the  future.  The  considerations  which  ])riniarily 
inlliu'iiced  the  choice  of  the  dilferent  locations  for  these  centers  were 
density  of  population,  social  conditions,  and  the  location  of  institutions 
already  established.  One  of  the  greatest  needs  of  the  cit\-  is  a  coni- 
in-ehensive  .system  (d'  small  jiarks  in  the  down-town  disti-ict.  Parks 
are,  ])erha]js,  the  most  imjiortant  factors  in  the  neiiihborhood  life — 
after  the  school — and  from  the  ;esthetic  standpoint  the  park  should 
form  the  center  aionnd   whicli  tlie  imihliniis  are  crouped. 

Taking  the  city  as  a   wliole,  St.   Lmiis  (h'votes  a  vei-y  satisfactoi*y 
]M(rtion  of  her  total  area  to  iniblic  ])ur|)oses.     Thus,  !t,l.'sr).it!t  acres  of 
a  total  of  39,27(>.25  acres,  or  23  per  cent  of  tlie  total 
Park  Distribution      acreage  of  the  city,  is  devoted  to  parks,  streets  and 
in  St.  Louis.  alleys,  and  school   grounds  and  school   liuildings. 

When  these  tigni-es  are  studied  by  districts,  how- 
e\'<'r,  gross  ine(iualities  appear.  I)i\iding  the  city  nmghl\'  into  three 
districts:  that  between  the  river  and  .lelfer.son  Avenue  to  be  called 
the  Eastern  District,  that  between  -lett'erson  and  <!raii(l  Aveiines  the 
Central,  and  that  from  (Irand  Avenue  west  to  the  city  limits  the 
Western  District,  we  find 

IN    THE    EASTERN    DISTRICT 

277,02S  ]>eople,  or  4S.;j  jx'i-  cent  of  the  total  jiopulation   i  1000). 

7,(!(i!J  acres,  or  !!)..")  per  cent  of  the  total  acreage. 

148.59  acres,  or  O.fl  ])er  cent  of  the  total  jiaik  area. 

IN    THE    CENTRAL    DISTRICT 
123,519  peoples  or  21.4  ]>er  cent  of  the  pii|in]al  inn. 
3,835.75  acres,  or  9.7  per  cent  of  the  total  acreage. 
170.15  acres,  or  8.3  per  cent  of  tiie  ])ark  area. 


40  A    CITY    I'LAX     I'dU    SAI.NT    LOUIS. 

IN   THE    WESTERN   DISTRICT 

17;!,7!tl  people,  or  o(».o  pel-  cent  of  the  poi»iilation. 
27,771.50  acres,  or  70.,S  per  cent   of  the  total  acreaj;e. 
1,799.83  acre.s,  or  84.7  ])vv  cent  of  tlie  ]iark  area. 

Ill  other  icoids.  JjS  per  cent  vf  the  people  have  easy  access  to  less 
than  7  per  cent  of  the  park  area;  21.)  per  cent  of  the  people  have  8  per 
cent  of  III!  /Kirk  urea,  irjiili  .id  pi  r  cenl  of  tlie  pet/pie  Jnire  S.'i  per  cent 
of  the  park  ar<(i. 

Putting  the  above  figures  iu  another   lorni,   we  find  that   in   the 

WESTKKN  DISTRK  T  THERE  IS  ONE  ACRE  OF  PARK  AREA  TO  EVERY  90.5 
PERSONS,  IN  THE  CENTRAL  DISTRICT  ONE  ACRE  OF  PARK  AREA  TO  EVERY' 
701.2  PERSONS,  WHILE  IN  THE  EASTERN  DISTRICT  THERE  IS  BIT  ONE  ACRE 
OF  PARK  .\(tEA  TO  EVERY  1,871  PERSONS. 

It  nia.v  he  argued  that  these  figures  are  misleading,  as  Forest  Park, 
wliich  lies  in  the  Western  District,  exists  for  all  the  people  of  the  city. 
While  this  is  partially  true  as  regards  the  people  living  in  the  Central 
District,  the  number  of  those  living  in  the  Eastern  Di.strict  who  are 
able  to  .spend  either  the  time  or  the  money  nece.s.sary  to  visit  Foi'est 
Park  is  so  small  that  we  believe  the  proportion  as  given  above  is 
approximate!}'  correct. 

We  feel  that  there  is  al.so  a  i)ressing  need  for  more  play  space  iu 
the  public  .schools,  especially   in   I  Ik-  Central  and   Eastern  Districts. 

Assuming  thirty  scjuare  feet  as  the  recognized  desirable 
Need  for  recreation  space  per  child  for  public  schools,  we  find 

More  School  ^'"^^  '"  t'"'  Western  District  ten  schools,  or  33  per  cent 
Playgrounds,      "f  tlie  total  luiinhei';  in  the  Central  District,  ten  schools, 

or  50  per  cent;  and  in  the  Eastern  District,  twenty- 
seven  schools,  or  til  per  cent  of  the  total,  have  less  than  this  minimum. 
Thus,  in  the  districts  where  the  schools  should  have  the  most  recreation 
area  per  child,  there  the  least  is  provided.  In  this  connection,  however, 
we  desire  to  add  that  the  present  Board  of  Education  has  recognized 
this  need  and  has  greatly  enlarged  the  grounds  of  the  Fremont,  the 
Carr,  the  Dessalines  and  the  Garnett  .schools,  and  this  policy  will  no 
doubt  prevail  in  the  purchase  of  land  for  all  new  buildings. 


William  Clarke  School. 


\  KATMAN     Hli:il    SciKlllI.. 


. 

•7   -^ 

< 

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^  rmtm  ■  w^ '  wp  ■  HI'' 

pBD 

11 

1  "^ 

HIS 

: 

»*-! 

— 

.  "■«-    ' 

^i" 

'-;' 

■- 

Blow  School. 

TYPICAL   SCHOOL    BUILDINGS    IN    SAINT    LOUIS. 
Important  Features  of  a  Civic  Center. 


CIVIC    CEXTEHS    KOU    ST.    LOUIS.  41 

All  iuvestigation  recently  undei-taken  in  New  York  by  the  Metro- 
];cilit;iii  Park  Assoi-iation  sliowo<l  that  the  death-rate  for  chihlren  in 
the  lilncUs  Itonlerinii'  on  Steward  Park  was  1.4")  per 
Small  Parks  cent,  while  that  of  the  blocks  directly  behind — which 

Decrease  Death  ilid  inii  have  the  pure  lii;ht  and  fresh  air  of  the  others 
Rate.  — \\  as  -2.07  per  cent.     In  other  words,  there  were  145 

deaths  in  the  blocks  facing  the  park  to  207  in  the 
hack  blocks.  If  these  ligures  ax'e  correct — and  the  inve.stigation  wmild 
.seem  to  have  been  carefully  nuide — small  parks  in  crowded  districts 
are  life-saving  institutions  to  the  people  living  near  them. 

A  report  made  in  this  city  some  three  years  ago — noi,  however, 
supiKHled  by  statistics  but  based  upon  the  .statements  of  the  police 
captains — shows  that  in  the  districts  in  which  play- 
Playgrounds  grounds  were  situated  there  was  a  very  marked 
Decrease  decrease  (50  per  cent)  in  juvenile  crime  in  the 
Juvenile  Crime.  iicigiili(iili("Ml  of  tlic  playgrouuds.  Looking  at  this 
statement  in  the  light  of  the  testimony  of  tlie 
President  of  the  St.  Louis  I5oard  of  Police  ( "ommissioners  before  the 
Legislature  in  1902 — that  "a  great  majority,  probably  90  per  cent,  of 
the  habitual  criminals  are  persons  wlio  haA'e  committed  their  first 
offense  against  the  laws  while  children  under  the  age  of  sixteen  years" 
— the  Ircmendous  value  of  the  parks  and  ])laygrounds,  nu-rely  as  a 
preventive  agency  in  minor  juvenile  crime,  becomes  obvious. 

The  recent  catastrophe  in  San  Francisco  shows  a  further  advantage 
of  a  large  park  area  in  the  thii-kly  built  neighliorhoods,  both  as  a 
])rotection  against  the  s]iread  of  tire  and  as  a  refiige 
Open  Spaces  for  '"  linies  of  danger.  If  San  Francisco  had  not  had 
Fire  Protection,  a  large  park  as  a  place  of  .safety  for  thousands  of  its 
homeless  citizens,  the  suffering  woidd  have  been 
niucli  more  inten.se;  if  the  city  had  had  a  nund)er  of  park  jtlaces  or  broad 
boulevards  in  the  path  of  the  flames  it  is  possible  that  the  conflagra- 
tion might  have  been  checked. 

From  a  consideration  of  the  above  tigures  it  is  obvious  ihal  tiie 
people  living  east  of  Jefferson  Avenue  ai-e  not  receiving  a  fair  share 
of  the  public  benefits.  When  the  vital  importance 
Needs  of  Eastern  ""  ""'  "''^^  '^^  ^^"'  p>'<M"'''  develo]>ment  of  the  health 
District.  i"id   morals  of   its  citi/eus — and   es)(ecially  of   lis 

poorer  citizens — is  considm-ed.  it  will  readily  be 
seen  that  merely  as  a  ]>rovision  for  the  .social  welfare,  if  for  no  other 
reason,  a  larae  increase  in  the  park  area  east  of  .TetVerson  .\ venue  must 


42  A    CITY     I'LA.N     FOlt    SAl.NT    I.OllS. 

I)('  made.  Sduiols,  jiarks  and  ]i1a.\i;rniimls,  publit-  liallis  and  lik('  insti- 
tutions arc  necessary  to  the  pliysical,  moral  and  mental  development  of 
the  people  livinf>-  in  the  congested  districts.  To  deprive  48  per  cent 
of  its  citizens  of  tlie  full  benefit  of  these  institutions  is  social  suicide 
to  a  communitv. 

As  an  exam[)le  of  the  inefficient,  unscieiitilic  methods  of  "city 
making"  of  the  past,  the  district  between   Seventh   and   Fourteenth 

Streets,  Cass  Avenue  and  Morgan  Street  is  in- 
Civic  Center  at  structive.  In  this  district  there  live — if,  indeed, 
Tenth  and  Carr  Sts.      it  can  be  called  living — some  21,7G2  ])eoi(le,  the 

average  density  per  acre  being  20().49.  While 
these  figures  of  congestion  may  seem  small  to  one  acquainted  with  the 
conditions  of  overcrowding  in  foreign  cities  and  in  some  of  the  Eastern 
cities  in  this  country,  the  fact  remains  that  this  is  the  worst  "slum" 
district  in  St.  Louis.  Tlie  modern  oliserver,  familiar  with  ilie  enlight- 
ened methods  of  treatmejit  for  such  districts,  would  exjject  to  find  the 
streets  well  paved  and  well  lighted,  sanitary  restrictions  rigorously 
enforced,  housing  conditions  carefully  regulated,  plumbing  fretpieutly 
iusi)ected,  tuberculosis  and  other  diseases  strongly  controlled,  and 
criminal  conditions  carefully  investigated  and  studied.  The  educator 
would  expect  to  tind,  together  with  tlie  sjiieudid  new  school  buildings 
recently  erected  in  this  crowded  disti-ict,  an  accessible  jiublic  lilirary 
branch,  a  free  public  lecture  cour.";e,  a  fully  e(|uipj  ed  park  and  play- 
grouud,  and  a  free  public  bath — in  short,  every  institution  Avhich  would 
tend  to  promote  the  mental,  moral  and  ])liysical  upbuilding  of  the 
people  of  this  district.  Unfortunately,  oidy  two  of  these  institutions 
have  thus  far  been  lu-ovided.  Throughout  this  section  are  found  poorly 
lighted  and  unpaved  streets,  .sanitation  filthy  beyond  description, 
housing  regulations  left  to  the  tender  mei'cies  of  the  rapacious  laud- 
lord,  plumbing  rai-ely,  if  ever,  inspected,  the  ravages  of  tuberculosis 
unchecked,  ci-ime  puiiished  but  not  ]ii-e\'eiited  and  absolutely  no 
provisions  maib'  for  jmblic  reci-eation. 

Fortunately,  the  needs  of  this  district  will  be  ])artially  met  by  the 
recently  oi)ened  Patrick  Henry  School,  equipped  as  it  is  with  every 
modern  educational  device  and  adapted  especially  to  the  needs  of  the 
crowded  population;  and  by  the  first  free  municipal  bath  now  under 
construction  at  Tenth,  between  Cass  Avenue  and  Riddle  Street.  But 
a  park  and  ]ilayground  is  the  crying  need  of  this  district.  The  lot  of 
the  children,  e.s])ecially  in  the  summer  time,  is  pitiful.  Play  is  an 
ab.solute  necessity  for  the  healthful  growth  of  children,  yet  their  only 


CIVIC    CKNTKKS    Idl!    ST.     MlIIS.  43 

playiiTounds  arc  the  streets,  broiling  lint  aiid  danjicious  liccansc  of  tlie 
coiistanllv  jtassini;  (i attic  or  tlic  alleys  and  liack  yards  between  the 
teneiiieiits,  aiiiifl  tin  loatlisome  sfeiicli  of  the jiarbaiic  aslies  and  tilth 
of  all  kinds  inljciii'd  ilicic  in  detiaiice  id  nnenforced  oi  diiiaiices.  ( ';ni 
this  be  healtlifiil  toi  cilliei-  the  ]ili.\sical  or  nioial  trainiiiin  of  <mi  future 
vt)ters?  Ai(  not  conditions  snili  as  these  ;it  least  ]iaitly  resi)onsii>le 
for  the  "floaters,"  whose  votes  are  boiiiiht  and  s(d(i  for  a  ^lass  of  i)eer 
on  eliMtion  day? 

.V  soiiiii]  |iubiic  ])(dii-y  di'iiiaiids  tiie  (■stal)lislniicnl  of  a  park  in  this 
disnirt.     ('air  I'ark,  thonjili  near  1>\'.  is  liardly  lariic  euouuh  to  jirovide 

foi'  its  own  immediate  iieij;lihorhooil.  The  hcdt  of 
A  Park  Greatly  n<'niocs  lietween  Elexcnth  and  Thiiteeiith  Streets 
Needed.  se]iaiate<  the  r\\<>  districts,  as  do  also  the  diifercnt 

nationalities,  different  cnsfonis.  and  dillVrent   social 

conditions  of  the  two  neiuhborh Is.     The  park  shonld   lie  so  located 

as  to  bind  toj^ether  the  institutions  now  (^stablisheij  or  in  course 
(d'  coiistniction  there.  Accoi-diin;ly,  we  icconniieiid  that  the  block 
between  Tenth,  Eleventh.  <'air  and  iliddie  Stieets  be  ]inr(  based  by  the 
city  for  a  park.  This  would  connect  the  Patrick  Henry  SchottI,  the 
Public  iiatli  anil  St.  Joseplfs  Cliurcb  with  the  Jewish  Alliance,  -Icffcr- 
son  School,  'j'iiihei  elb  Israel.  Sheerith  S"phanl.  Ilclh  llaiiim<'dri>sb 
Ilaii;.;adol,  Kinyon  (iaiilee  Uajitist.  ( "oiiure^Liational  Inion  <  huiches. 
the  (irace  Lutheran  .Mission.  Sisters  (d  Xotic  Dame,  the  I'ouitli  Dis- 
trict I'(dice  Station,  and  IMn  <nui](aiiies  Xos.  IS  and  4(1.  This  would 
also  Ik  a  sjdeudid  location  for  the  institutions  workiii.u  ainoii':  Italians, 
as  this  nationality  is  takinji  jtossession  of  this  locality,  and  the  former 
■Jewish  residents  arc  rajiidly  moving  westward  towards  .Jefferson 
Avenue. 

A    model    tenement    wbiili    wnuld    providi     healthtul    and    sanitar\' 

lixinu  jilaces  and  would  set  an  e.\am]de  in  (deanliness  and  decency  to 

the  surroundinii  iieiiihborhood  wiAild  be  a  i;real  boon 

Public  Lectures        '"     ''''^     localilV.       There     should      lie     public     lecture 

and  Vacation  couises  iu  the  new    Tairick  Henry  School  and  in  the 

Schools.  s\immer  time  a  \acatioii  school.    These  wnuld  supple- 

ment the  rei;ular  school  curriculum  and  would  make 
school  attractive  to  tlu'  Italian  child,  who  lacks  the  desire  for  learnini;- 
\\hicli  i)OSse.sses  his  .lewisb  iieii;hlior,  and  whose  interest  in  school 
matteis  consecpn-ntly  needs  everv  stimulus.  Some  provision  should  be 
niadi   for  the  older  people  in  the  wa.v  <if  recreation  centers  and  public 


44  A    CITY    I'LAX     I'dlt    SAINT    I.OIIS. 

lectures.  Tin-  f;ut  tliiil  (lie  cliildrcn  of  iiiimiiiTJUils  i-aitidly  assiinilnte 
new  ciistoiiis  and  mamicrs  and  jiniw  dail\'  farther  and  farther  away 
finiii  llieii-  parents  is  a  Irajicdy  to  the  individuals  and  a  serious  reflec- 
tion on  the  coniniunity.  Tlie  ])arents  siiouJd  lie  ^iven  a  cliance  (o 
develoj)  witli  tlieir  cliiidren,  tiius  iiindin.n  totictlier  the  lionie  willi  a 
new  ti<'.  Furtlierniore,  tlu'  cross-streets  slu)n!d  he  ]iaved  and  lcei)t 
clean,  sanitary  measures  strictly  enforced,  liousinii  conditions  carefully 
iincstiiialed,  and  oidinances  jtassed  to  i-enulate  tJie  ])revaleii<  e\ils. 
AltlKuijih  tile  nearness  to  the  Central  Tiil)rary  may  make  a  hrancli 
huildin^H'  unadvisalde  liei-e,  there  should  he  a  reading'  room  in  connec- 
tion with  the  civic  center. 

The  district  in  the  iieinldiorhood  of  Cai-r  Scpiare  is  becomiufi'  more 
and  more  densely  iiojiulated,  and,  conse(|uently,  its  social  needs  are 

hecominii'  constantly  more  pressinji'.  The  population  of 
Carr  Square  Ihis  district  consisted  formerly  of  (iei-mans,  Irish  and 
District.  Anu'ricaus,  hut  within  the  last  five  years  there  has  heen 

a  larije  influ.x  of  Russian  .Tews.  The  waves  of  immigra- 
tion would  seem  to  he  swee])in<i'  the  Americans  liradually  westward 
to  Jefferson  Avenue,  the  Irish  and  (iermans  to  the  north,  and  the 
neiiroes  to  the  south  and  immediately  east  of  this  district.  Still  further 
east  are  the  Italians  and  Poles.  To  one  familiar  with  .T(Mvish  clmi-acter- 
istics,  it  would  he  unnecessary  to  say  that  the  people  of  this  district 
are  thiifly,  well-to-do  and  lienerally  law-abiding-.  A  superficial  glance 
at  the  honsinii'  conditions  would  seem  to  indicate  that  there  is  little 
over-crowdinp;,  hut  a  (doser  investigation  shows  that  most  of  the  houses 
are  cut  up  into  furnished  rooms,  many  of  them  with  little  or  no  light 
or  ventilation,  while  the  hack  yards  are  huilt  u])  with  rear  tenements. 
Th(>  sewage  system  is  anti(]uated,  the  plumhing  defect i\e,  and  yard 
closets,  ash  pits  and  garbage  receptacles  are  in  a  tilthy  and  unsanitary 
condition.  The  lack  of  ])rivacy  in  the  crowded  tenements  and  the 
corrui)ting  influences  of  factory  life  weaken  the  moral  fiber  of  tlie 
children  to  a  degree  little  realized  by  those  unfamiliar  with  these 
conditions.  Housing  conditions  are  \itally  impoi-tant  in  the  crowded 
districts,  and  (h'mand  nuu*e  consideratiiui  than  they  Inive  hitherto 
received  in  the  interests  of  the  public  health.  The  back  tenements 
shelter  vicious  gangs  of  toughs  and  criminals  and  are  the  breeding- 
spots  of  crime. 


THE    NL'CLEUS    OF    A    CI\'IC    CENTER. 
Scenes  from    Miillanpliy  Playground. 


(Tvic  (  i:ni  T.iis   i(Pii  ST.   i.iir'is.  45 

("ail-  I'ai-k  toiiiis  ilic  iiaiiii-al  (•ciitcr  toi-  tliis  distriri.  (li-oujicd 
ainiiiiil  till    |)aik.  ilic  <"ai-r  Sdiool,  ilic  .Nh-inoi-ial  Taln'niaclc  ("luinli. 

lli(  ( '(iiniic^ialioM  Sliariis  Sjiiiard,  and  rlic  1  >ciitsc!ic 
Carr  Park  as  a  I-xanui'lisiln'  Kiiilii'.  lorm  iIk^  iiuc1(mi'<  tni-  a  mucli- 
Civie  Center.         ikm'iIciI   civic  cciiIim.     A   ])la\L;iiiiiii(l   iia^   lin-n  cstali- 

lishcd  iu  the  pai-k  and  a  pnlilic  liatli  sliunid  Ih-  Iniilt 
facini^-  it.  This  would  lie  a  s]d('i!did  Ideation  for  a  sncial  scitlfnicnt 
f(tr  work  anion^  tlic  Jewish  iienjile.  Furthermore,  a  readini;  room 
branch  of  the  I'vililic  IJinaiy  should  Ik-  established  here  to  serve  as 
distrilintinji'  iioint  for  tills  disii-ict.  The  .lews  are  lu-i:L:ht.  earnest  and 
a|)]ii('ciativc  of  any  advantiiiic  .uiven  them,  and  thev  slioidd  lie  ;;i\'en 
every  educational  advantajic 

-Vll  o]H;i>l  t  unit  \'  exists   fol-   the  estaliiisjiiiieiil    <if  a   ci\ic   center,  ade- 
(|uate  for  tlie  jiresent    needs  of  this  district,   in  connection    with    the 
iiinniciiial  iilay.iiround  at  Tenth  and  Mullan]iliv  Slr<'('ts. 
Mullanphy  1'"'   property    exteiidinj:    alonji    the    .Alullanphv    Street 

Playground,  fiont  of  the  jilaviiround  from  Tenth  to  Eleventh  Streets, 
and  now  under  lease  l)\'  the  munici]ialily.  should  lie 
purchased  liy  the  cil  V.  If  should  also  |iuichase  the  small  lot  nn  Tenth 
Street,  now  under  lease,  and  the  hou.ses  on  Eleventh  Street,  now  ow  ned 
by  the  Mullan])hy  ISoaid.  In  these  houses  there  should  he  established 
a  ^vmnasium  and  ]iiihlic  hath  house,  a  branch  readinii  loom  of  rlie 
I'ldilic  Library  and  a  hall  for  public  nieetiu.t>s.  The  iilayjiroiind  could 
thi'ii  be  enlarucd  by  din  tillinu  and  by  the  removal  of  the  present 
temporary  library  and  bath  buildings  to  the  iierniaiK'iit  (|iiarters. 

The  pro])erty  recently  ]iurchased  by  the  city  for  a  ]iark  at  (Jarrison 
Avenue  and  North  Market  Sticet  should  be  jirovided  with  ball  tiehls. 

iiymnasiic  a]i]iaratus.  and  other  e()uiiimenl  tor  the  use 
A  New  Park,     ot    the   older   boys   and   youuiicr   men   of   the    northern 

disirici  u(  the  cii\-.  This  would  furnish  a  larue  jcirk 
e;i-<ily  accessible  to  the  street  cars  and  de\dted  ];rimaril\'  to  sports  for 
th(  lii-ow  ii-up  boys.  One  corner  ot  the  park  should  be  laid  out  as  a 
lilay;:ioiind  for  the  youiiuci-  children  in  the  iiiimediate  iiei;;libiirhood. 
There  should  also  be  erected  a  public  bath  fronting;-  on  the  park,  and  a 
branch  readinu  room  ot  the  Public  Library  in  the  near  vicinil\. 

The  abandoned  water  wurks  at  I'.isselP.s  point  wnuld  be  an  ideal 
site  for  a  river-front  ]iark  and  playiironml,  which  could  be  »'siablished 


46  A    CITY    I'l.AN     I'OK    SAINT    I.OtlS. 

at  slight  cost  to  the  city.  The  Imildiugs  already  tlicre 
Bisseirs  Point  coiiltl  he  fixed  np  as  a  }»;yinnasiuni,  shelter  aud  swim- 
Playground,  iniiiii  ])()ol  at  a  cost  of  less  than  |4,000,  and  the  iiier 

j\ittin.u-  into  the  river  would  afford  a  restinji  ]i]ace, 
(Doled  liy  ihc  liver  lireezes,  lor  tile  people  of  that  district.  TJie  swiiii- 
nuu'j^  pool  would  Iceep  the  lutys  out  of  tlie  river  and  would  tlius  ]irevent 
the  loss  of  many  lives  eacli  suuinier.  Aithoujih  tliere  are  hut  few 
houses  in  tlie  immediate  vicinity,  we  are  informed  by  residents  of  this 
disliici  iliat  even  without  any  attractions  many  liniidreds  of  cliildren 
come  liere  to  play.  It  would  lie  a  slmrt-sijilited  jiolicy  not  to  take; 
advantage  <if  this  opportunity,  especially  as  this  park  mijiiit  ultimately 
form  one  of  a  chain  of  parks  along  the  river  front.  We  recommend, 
therefore,  that  the  Municipal  Assembly  appropriate  the  sum  of  .ffi.OOO 
for  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  a  ]ilayiiround  at  Uissell's 
Point. 

In  additiim  to  the  playjirounds  as  alio\c  planned  foi-  tlie  iiorilieiii 
section  of  the  city,  there  should  be  accommodation  provided  for  mothers 

and  small  children  in  Hyde  Park,  (iambic  Place  and 
Hyde  Park,  -lackson  Place.     This  is  necessitated  by  the  fact  that 

Gamble  Place,       small  cliildren  should  not  be  forced  to  walk  far  m-  to 
Jackson  Place,     cross  crowded  streets  in  order  to  get  a  jilayground. 

As  will  be  seen  by  a  glance  at  the  map  accom|)anying 
this  i-e]ioi-t,  a  playground  in  each  of  the  above-named  parks  wouhl 
coiii|)leii-  the  system  as  pi'oposed  for  the  whole  district.  There  should 
also  Ik'  a  reading  room  in  each  of  these  neighborhoods. 

The  nucleus  of  a  civic  center  already  exists  in  the  neighborhood  of 
St.  Louis  Place.     A  long,  narrow  park  stretches  fi'om  Maiden  Lane  to 
Hebert  Street  and  fronting  it  are  the  Zion  ( "hurch, 
St.  Louis  Place  a      f'"'  I'lair  Scliool  and  the  Little  Sisters  of  the  Poor 
Civic  Center.  Asylum.      The  iieojile  in  the  immediate  proximity  of 

the  jiark  are  wcll-lo-do,  but  a  few  blocks  away 
there  is  a  large  settlement  of  jioorer  iieople  who  need  the  advantages 
of  the  recreation  offered  by  a  jiai'k  and  public  bath.  .Many  of  their 
houses  are  old  and  unsanitary,  and  few  of  tliem  liave  baths.  Special 
provision  should  be  made  for  the  cliildren  of  these  poorer  people, 
for  at  present  they  perhaps  feel  a  little  unwelcome  in  the  more 
aristocratic  St.  Louis  IMace.  The  two  small  squares  which  are  cut  otf 
from  the  re.st  of  the  ]iark  by  the  intersection  of  North  ^farket  and 
Henton  Streets,  and  where  some  jilayground  e(|nipment  was  jilaced 
during  the  ]>ast  summer,  should  lie  turned  into  a  ]ilaygrouiid  and  open 


PLAN      roR 
SouuARD   Civic  CcM-rcR 


THE    SOULARD    CIVIC    CliNTER. 
A   SnKgi--stc[|  Trc.ilnicni  Wliicli  Will  .\iit  Interfere  With  tin-  Markei   Place 


The  SoLilard  Civic  Center 


CIVIC    CKNTKIiS    FOi;    ST.    I.OUIS.  47 

air  swiiniiiiii^  |Minl.  ( )ni'  of  llic  conicrs  fronting  on  tlic  ]»ark  wonld 
make  a  sjilciidid  local  ioii  for  a  hi-aiicli  ])ublic  library  building,  since 
tills  would  be  a  ccutrai  distributing  jioint,  with  pxcollcnt  strcot  car 
facilities.  We  would  also  suggest  to  tlie  authorities  in  charge  of  the 
Asylum  that  by  taking  away  the  high  wall  surrounding  it  they  woidd 
add  greatly  to  tlie  beauty  of  the  neighborhood  without  in  the  least 
detracting  from  its  jiriAacy.  A  public  bath  should  ultimately  be  estab- 
lislie<l  here  for  the  large  and  gi-owing  population  in  this  neighborhood. 
Wlien  till  complete  .system  of  civic  centers  as  hereinbefore  elab- 
orated was  first  outlined,  it  was  planned  to  establish  a  center  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Jefferson  Avenue  and  Dickson 
A  Playg'round  West  f^treet.  This  plan  contemplated  the  jmrchase 
of  Carr  Square.  "f  tlie  vacant  property  lying  between  Jefferson 

and  Twenty-fourth,  O'Fallon  and  Biddle  Streets, 
for  a  park  and  i)laygroun<l,  and  the  erection  of  a  public  bath  and 
po.ssibly  a  iniblic  library  branch  on  corners  facing  the  park.  The 
civic  group  would  then  have  comprised  the  park,  bath  and  library 
buildings,  and  the  Good  Samaritan  ITosjiital,  the  Third  District  Sub- 
I'olici  Station,  and  the  I'hysicians"  and  Surgeons"  ("ollege,  already 
established  there.  Shortly  after  this,  however,  the  Municipal  Assembly 
authorized  the  purchase  of  the  property  lying  between  Magazine  and 
North  ^larket  Streets,  (Ua.sgow  and  Leffingwell  Avenues  for  a  park, 
and  th(  lot  A\liich  we  had  pro]K>sed  to  recommend  for  a  park  ^^•as  sold 
and  a  factory  is  to  l»e  erected  thereon.  We  fo^el,  however,  that  a  ]>lay- 
giound  should  be  located  midway  lietween  Carr  Place  and  the  new 
park  at  (ilasgow  Avenue  and  North  ilarket  Street  to  provide  for  this 
district,  which  is  rapidly  increasing  in  popidation.  A  public  bath 
should  also  be  located  here.  This  district  is  rapidly  building  u]),  and 
with  the  westward  trend  of  the  ])oiiulation  over-crowding  is  inevitable. 
Advantage  should  be  taken  of  the  opportunity  to  purchase  a  park  at 
com]iaratively  small  expense,  since  the  people  in  this  district  have  no 
park  wiljiiii  an  easily  accessible  distance. 

Another  thickly  ]ioimlate<l  section  of  the  city  is  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Soulard  ^Market,      \\est  of  the  .Market  to  Fourteenth   Street   is  a 

very  densely  .settled  region,  while  east  of  Broadway 
Soulard  Place  a  there  are  large  numbers  of  tumbledown  shacks\ 
Civic  Center.  where  in  some  cases  as  many  as  ten  people  live  in 

one  room.  A  ])ark  is  urgently  needed  in  this 
district  and  if  located  as  proposed  wouhl  be  accessible  to  the  people 
liviiii'  east  of  i'>i-oadwa\,  as  well  as  to  the  more  tliicklv  settled  district 


48 


A    (ITV     I'l.AX     l"<»I!    SAINT    r,(»TIS. 


to  the  west.  Acfordiiijilv.  ilic  |i;nk  liiis  liccii  clioscii  as  tlic  (('liter  of  tlic 
l)i(»li(isc(l  civif  (('liter  and  tlie  Iniildiiijis  have  Iteeu  jirouped  altont  it. 
Tlie  institutions  already  estabiisiied  in  tliis  district  may  lie  roiiiilily 
divided  into  t\v(i  sections:  the  Soulard  .Market,  the  Third  Histrict 
I'dliic  Stalioii  ami  tin-  |)rip]iipscil  riililic  ilalli  in  the  eastern  section, 
and  the  ("arioll  Scinnd,  the  Sued  St.  i.ouis  Turn  Halle,  tlie  .Markliani 
Meniorial  .Mission,  the  Smith  Side  Day  Xiirsery,  the  Chmch  St.  .lolin 
of  Nepoinuk.  the  Slcuhi  Si.  .iniia  Xejioinuk,  the  Skola  (>sadv  St.  Jdhn 
(il  Xe|ii)nmk,  and  ihe  Skdla  a-sin  <)sady  St.  .laiia  \i'|i(iiiiiik.  in  the 
westein  pdition.  Takinii  ad\anta,iic  (if  this  i;r(in|iinii.  we  have  divided 
the  district  into  twn  civic  centers:  one  for  jmlilic  and  the  other  for 
senii-|iiil>lic  insiiiniions.  with  a  s|ileiidid  oiipoiiuiiily  for  unitinii  ihe 
two  hy  e.xteiidiiiii  the  proposed  jmrk  westward  two  hlocks.  The  jinlilic 
district  may  he  ronjihly  divided  into  the  district  lietwcen  Lafayette 
.\ venue  and  Tenth  Street.  .Marion  Street  and  llroadway.  In  order  to 
connect  the  (iilfeieiii  ]inliiic  institutions  mentioned  ahove  and  to  in-o- 
vidi  a  small  park  and  iilayjironnd  so  nrjicntly  needed  in  this  district, 
\\c  icconimeiid  that  the  two  hlocks  honiided  liy  Sonlard.  Ninth,  -Fiilia 
and  Sexi'iitli  Streets  lie  pill-chased  hy  the  lily  foi-  a  park  and  pla\- 
.Lli'oiind  ;  that  Julia  Slicet,  lietwcen  Se\i'iiili  and  Twelfth  Streets,  he 
closed;  thai  .Iiilia  Street  from  Ninth  to  Twelfth  Streets  lie  laid  out 
as  a  liroad  walk  with  a  donlile  row  of  I  ice^.  thus  connectinii'  the  jiark 
and  the  chiirch  ;  and  that  the  I'aik  Department  he  instructed  to  la\ nut 
("ity  I'docks  Nos.  87r>  Noith  and  South,  and  :>S1  North  and  South  in 
such  a  wav  as  to  carry  out  the  park  idea  in  the  landscajie  treatment 
withoiii  interferinii  with  the  jnactical  utility  of  the  northern  hlocks 
as  a  imhlic  markei  place. 

We  fill  t her  recommend  to  the  I'lihlic  Lilirary  Hoard  the  corner  of 
Eiiihth  and  Sonlard  Streets  as  a  desirahle  location  for  one  of  the 
hranch  jnihlic  lihraries. 

\\'(  also  call  ili(  atteiil  ion  of  the  I'.oaid  of  l]d  neat  ion  to  the  fact  that 
the  Carroll  School,  with  a  .seatinji  capacity  of  1,():>.'').  has  a  net  iilay 
area  of  lint  11,4(1(1  sipiare  feet  instead  of  the  81, (tod  s(|nare  feet  which 
it  sliould  have,  accordiiiij  lo  the  tiiiuics  i:i\eii  in  the  introduction.  .\n 
a(hlitioii  to  the  s(di(i(il  area.  aliiiiliiiL;  as  it  does  on  the  jirojiosed  walk, 
\\dnld  lie  a  distinct  improvement  lioth  to  the  school  and  to  the  iieiuli- 
liorhood. 

The  semi-imhlic  district  wenld  extend  ^\('stward  aloiiu  the  same 
line  to  Twelfth  Str(M>t.  This  district  is  thickly  ]jopulated,  the  averajie 
density  ]ier  acre  heini;-  21(t.4  and  the  ureatest  density  in  one  hlock  hein<; 


M.AVGROUXDS   SCENES    IX    SAINT    LOUIS. 


CIVIC    CENTERS    FOU    ST.    LOUIS.  49 

X\A  ])(■!■  ;iciv.  The  lai'jici-  innlioii  of  tlic  population  are  Bohciiiiaiis, 
witli  ilic  (icniiaiis  next  in  iiuiiilicr  anil  a  few  Slavs  and  Hun2;aiMans. 
The  people  of  tiiis  tlistrict  arc,  as  a  whole,  poor,  self -respect  in-i,  hnv- 
al)i(lin£>:,  ambitious  for  theii-  cliihli-cn  and  thrifty.  Tliis  would  seem 
to  he  an  ideal  localion  for  suinc  oruanization  w  liich  winihl  work  nn 
hi(iad,  ncpii-scctariaii  lines  with  h'clnrr  courses  and  .niuncs  dcvolcd  lo 
edncalional  purposes,  l-'rcc  pulilic  lectures  sliouhi  he  given  in  the 
schools  and  every  effort  sliould  he  nuuh-  to  hrini;  tlie  jiarents  in  contact 
witii  the  same  educational  inlluences  which  are  at  work  among  tiieir 
children.  A  recreation  center  in  the  school  would  assist  in  accomplisli- 
ing  this  jmrpose.  This  would  also  he  a  good  location  for  a  model 
tenement,  which  would  serve  as  a  model  in  cleanliness  and  sanitation 
to  the  people  in  their  homes.  We  can  recommend  this  district  especially 
to  institutions  working  for  the  hroad,  constructive,  educational  up- 
building of  character  among  the  poorer  classes.  The  needs  and  desires 
of  these  peojde  would  seem  to  furnish  a  .soil  peculiarly  adapted  to 
educational  purjioses.  and  the  seeds  of  t-ducation  .sown  here  would  reap 
a  ricji  harvest  in  the  development  of  right-minded,  high-thinking 
Ameri<-an  citizens. 

A  playground  is  urgently  needed  in  Lyon  Park,  as  there  are 
thousands   of  children   living   near   by   who   have   no   place    for   play. 

The  streets  are  rendered  especially  dangerous  here  by  the 
Lyon  Park,      traftic  to  and  from  the  big  breweries.     A  part  of  the  park 

is  well  adapted  to  i)laygroun(l  jpurposes.  We  recommend, 
theicfore.  that  a  jilayground  be  esiablished  in  Lyon  Park. 

r.et^>ceu  the  proposed  Soulaid   .Market  Park  and  Lyo7i  Park  there 
is  a  thickly  settled  district,  composed  almost  entirely  of  the  families 
of  the   workmen    in   the   breweries  and    factories 
Civic  Center  at  near  iiy.     These  people  must  be  given  an  oppor- 

Ninth  and  Ann  Sts.  tnnity  for  a  lireath  of  fresh  air  in  the  evenings 
after  their  confining  day's  work,  and  their  chil- 
dren must  hav(  a  ])lace  in  which  to  I'hiy.  Then'  is  an  ojiportunity  for 
the  establishment  of  a  ci\ic  center  in  tlii'  neighliorliood  of  Ninth  ami 
Ann  Streets  at  a  comi)arativ(dy  suuill  co.st.  A  new  and  beautiful 
school  building  is  being  erected  on  the  noi-theast  corner.  On  the  south- 
west corner  there  is  a  block  of  vacant  ground,  the  only  large  piece 
of  property  in  the  whole  district  which  is  not  imilt  upon.  This  block 
should  be  ]inrchase(l  imme(lialely  for  a  i)ark  and  playground.    A  public 


50  A     cnV     I'l.AN     I'ul!    SAINT     I.OllS. 

Iiiilli  slnmld  tlicii  lie  liiiill  fiomiiiu  on  the  |i;nl<  iiinl  near  lli<'  new  sclinnl 
liiiildiiiu  iin\\    uiiilcr  coiisinicl inn. 

I.iifiiyi'ttc  I'arU.  ('nnii  an  a'silirtic  stan(l|rniiii.  is  a  worlliv  srttiiii: 
for    lii-antiriil    liuildin.us,    wlictlicr    jMihlic    m-    |)i-i\aic.    and    simc    the 

niaj(irit\-  of  tiu'  ikmijiIc  li\iiiL;  in  lliis  nciiildioi-liood 
Lafayette  Park.      ;"''   \\<'ll-io-do.    ii    wmild   seem    a    nion-   aiiiii-opriatc 

local  ion  for  cliMnlics,  clnlis,  or  social  orjijiniziitioiis, 
than  Coi-  imltjic  liatjis  oj-  social  scirlciiicnts.  WC  icconiniciid,  ho\v('v«^r, 
that  a  ]>layi;rouiul  he  cstahlishcd  in  or  lu^ar  the  jiark,  as  the  children 
have  little  or  no  ojieii  sjjace  for  )>lay  in  this  neiiihliorhood.  As  for  the 
rest,  ihe  n]iliuildiiiL;  of  ihis  dislrici  should  come  from  |n-i\ale  initiative 
and   t>,\'  |)ri\ale  iiistiiniions. 

A  lari:e  jtark  is  needed  in  llie  ceiilial  soulhern  dislrici  of  ihe  city 
as  a  liall  held  and  i:\ninasiiiin  for  the  older  hoys  and  yonnii  mcii  of  the 
Soulh  Side.  This  Park  should  lie  located  near 
Park  Needed  Near  -lenerson  A\ciiue  and  on  an  easi  and  west  oar 
South  Jefferson.  liui.  The  ]iaik  should  he  laid  out  wilh  liase-liall 
and  fool-hall  fields,  rminiini  track  and  oiieii-air 
UA  inna-<inni.  As  this  disti-ici  hecomes  more  thickl.v  settled,  a  jiortion 
of  ihe  ]iarU  should  he  laid  out  as  a  ]da>iiround  I'or  ihe  Nonnincr  children 
lixiiii:'  near  hw      A  juihlic  hath  should  also  l;e  iocale<l  here. 

t'ainenie  Place  is  a  sirikiuu  example  of  the  wastefulness  of  the 
old  |;aik  methods.     The  yrass  of  itenlon  Park  near  hy.  which  should 

have  been  ]»reserved  to  comidete  the  harmonious 
Carneg"ie  Place,      ireatment  ol  the  rest  of  the  jtark,  has  been  killed  hy 

allow  in^-  lh(  children  lo  jdax'  on  ii,  while  ("arneiiie 
l'lac(\  splendidl.v  adajited  to  playiiiouiid  purposes,  has  Iteen.  until  the 
lireseiit  summer,  carefully  locked  u]i  and  the  children  excluded.  This 
policy  should  he  reversed  and  a  permanent  i)layi:round  should  he  estah- 
lished  ill  ('ailK'Liie  Place,  while  IJenlou  Park  should  he  devilled  to 
purely  ])ark  )Mirp()ses.  A  puhlic  haili  should  nliimalely  he  esiahlishcd 
near  by,  and  jjossihly  a  hraiich  reading  room  of  the  ]uihlic  lii)i-ar.\',  to 
he  operated  in  connection  with  Ihe  I'.arr  hranch  on  .li-lferson  and 
Lafayette  Avenues.  The  ])resent  needs  of  this  districl  are  iioi  pressin.<r, 
since  there  is  no  over-crowdini;  here  and  the  ]ieo](le  are  Well-to-do.  As 
ii  provision  for  the  future  jirowth  of  this  district,  however,  the  above 
recoinniendations  should  be  cai-ried  oui  as  soon  as  practicable. 


CIVIC    CKNTEItS    FOK    ST.    LOlIS.  51 

We  have  no  icconiiiiciKliitions  to  iiiakc  as  n-nanls  tlic  cxtivme 
norlliiM'ii   and   cxti-cinc  soiillicni   jxn-tioiis  of  the  city.     W'c   feel   that 

I  he  iriorc  iit'cdcd  iiiiia'ovciiicuts  in  the  central 
Northern  and  district  shouhl   and    ninsi   l)e  attended    to   tirst. 

Southern  Districts.  As  regards  parks,  tiie  district  north  of  the  sug- 
gested BisselTs  I'oint  phiygronnd  is  w  itiiin  easy 
distance  of  O'FaUon  Park,  while  on  the  south  side,  l.ailede  I'ark, 
Dakota  Park,  t^outh  Market  Park,  Carondelet  I'ark  and  South  St. 
Louis  Place  are  sutticieut  for  present  needs.  With  the  growth  of  the 
city  and  the  increasing  density  of  population  more  parks  will  be 
needed  in  these  districts,  l)ut  the  present  needs  are  not  pressing.  The 
same  thing  applies  In  puldic  haths,  tliongli  there  sjiouhl  he  at  least  one 
imlilic  hath  in  lioth  tiie  extreme  northern  and  the  extreme  soutiiern 
districts.  There  should  he,  and  undouhtedly  there  will  be.  a  ]>ul)lic 
library  branch  in  eacli  of  these  districts  to  serve  as  a  distributing  jmint 
for  the  district.  We,  however,  prefer  not  to  make  .specific  recommemla- 
tions  for  these  districts,  since  we  feel  that  the  attention  of  the  municipal 
authoi-ities  should  be  gixcn  to  the  iiiuiiediate  demands  of  the  central 
down-town  di.strict. 

In  conclusion,  a  brief  exposition  of  the  general  x>i'inciples  under- 
lying the  selection  of  location  for  the  variou.'!  institutions  proposed, 
and  a  brief  outline  of  the  completed  plan  of  civic  centers. 
Conclusions.  •'•'^  suggested  above,  might  be  appropriate.  In  the  first 
jdace,  it  was  felt  tlial  the  small  ]>ark  was  the  most 
needed  of  the  various  institutions  considered,  in  view  of  the  local 
conditions.  A  study  (d'  the  statistics  given  in  the  first  \k\H  (d'  this 
report  show  that  the  greatest  nee<l  for  small  parks  existed  in  the 
district  lying  between  (irand  .V venue  on  the  north  and  west,  Osceola 
Street  on  the  .south  ami  the  ^Ii.ssissi]»])i  Uiver  on  the  east.  It  was  then 
necessary  to  maji  ont  an  ideal  system  of  small  ]>arks,  and  especially 
of  playgrounds.  sin<-e  it  was  felt  that  in  a  crowded  residence  district  a 
playground  was  moi-e  valuable  than  a  ])ark,  on  the  theory  that  the 
health  and  morals  of  the  jx'ople  are  of  more  importance  than  the  pre- 
carious existence  of  a   few  blades  of  gra.ss. 

An  article  by  Mr.  Jo.seph  Lee,  a  recognized  authority  on  playground 

matters,  gives  the  ett'e<tive  radius  of  a  playground  as  fcdlows:      1.     l''or 

childi-cn    in    arms,    one-fourth    mile.     -.    I'or   children 

Principle  under  six  who  can  walk,  one-foiutli  mile,  not  crossing 

of  Selection.      an  electric  car  or  railroad  track,     o.    For  children  six 

to    twche.    oue-bair    mile.      4.     I-'oi'    children    twelve   to 


5ii  A     (ITV     I'l.AX     I'dl!    SAINT     I.Ol'lS. 

scvciitccii  \vli(»  can  not  atTord  cai-  fares,  iliici'-lnmtli  miles.  .">.  l!all 
fields  for  tile  lii<j:iLi'er  hoys  and  men,  a  mile  of  w  alUini;  ami  a  ti\'e-cenl  fare. 

.Vdaptinii  the  aliove  licneial  priMciples  lo  e.xisiini;  conditions  in 
St.  I.onis,  we  su.;:i;est  that  the  park  at  I.ettin.uwell.  (iairison,  I'.enton 
and    .Madison    Streets,    on    the    noiili,    and    ihe    |(ro|)ciscd    park    in    Ilie 

nei^ihhuili 1    (d'   .I(d'feison    AveniU'   and    Slienandoali    Aven\n'   on    Ihe 

sonlh,  he  laid  ont  in  iiasehall  and  foot-hall  tields,  e(|nipi(ed  with  uvm- 
iiasfic  a|i|iaratns  and  he  de\'ole(l  piimarily  to  Ihe  nse  i)\'  the  vonnn  men 
and  older  hnys  in  the  norlhern  and  soulliern  disli-icts  respecl  ixclw 
One  comer  i>(  each  i)ai-k  shonld  he  laid  out  as  a  plaxuronnd  for  Ihe 
yonniicr  children  and  the  jiarenls  liviiii;  in  the  iinme(liate  neiiihhoi-hood. 
This  would  proxide  for  all  the  land  mentioned  hy  .Mr.  Lee,  and  would 
he  the  only  lariic  park^  needed  in  ihe  entire  district  under  considei-a- 
tion.  I'^or  the  fonrth  (dass,  the  (  hildreii  hetween  Iwclxc  and  seventeen, 
provision  shonld  he  made  in  addition  at  Tenth  and  Carr  Streets,  the 
.Mullan]ihy  jilayiiround  and  Hyde  I'ark  on  the  noith  side,  and  at 
Sonlaid  I'ark,  ("arnei^ie  I'lace,  l.ailede  I'ark  and  I, yon  I'ark  on  the 
sonlh  side,  l-'or  the  first,  second  and  third  (dassc>,  ihe  mol  her-;.  I  tallies 
in  aims,  children  under  six,  ami  children  fioiii  six  to  iwcKc,  proxisidii 
should  he  made  at  all  the  jiarks  meiitiiuie(l  ahove  and  also  al  <  'arr  I'ark, 
.Marion  I'lace,  St.  I.onis  I'lace,  Tweiity-tirst  and  l)i(d;soii  Streets, 
(ianihle  I'lace  on  the  iKU-th.  and  at  Lafayette  Park  and  Twelfth  Sti-eet 
and  Shenandoah  .\\enne  on  llie  south  side.  Thi-<  would  provide  a 
playiironnd  within  a  leasunahle  dislam-e  for  eveiv  man.  woniaii  and 
child  in  the  crowded  K-sideiice  districts  (d'  the  city.  The  map  at  the 
close  (if  the  i-eport  shows  the  complete  system  as  outlined. 

As  rciiaids  puhlic  halhs.  \\c  have  i  ecnnimeiided  six  on  ihe  noi-ih  side 
and  f(»nr  on  the  south  side.    In  addil  ion  i  here  should  he  lioat  ini:  hat  lis  on 

the  river.  The  I'lihlic  Lihraiy  hramhes  as  |)lanned 
Libraries  comprise  t(Mir  in  the  district   under  consideration, 

and  Public  Baths,      which,  with  the  hranches  in  the  extreme  mu-lhern 

and  extreme  southern  distiicts.  and  the  one  in  the 
west  end,  make  the  liumher  ]il()posed  to  he  el<'cte(l.  There  should  also 
he  reading  rooms  to  snp]d<'nient  the  hram  h  hiiildinus  and  we  have  rec- 
ommended einlit  locations  for  this  purpose.  We  have  also  recommended 
locations  for  two  model  teiiemenls  and  three  social  selllemeiils.  We 
trust  that  these  siiiijivstions  will  he  taken  in  the  sjiirit  in  which  they 
are  otl'ered  hy  the  various  Itoards  of  directors  in  cliar^c  of  the  institn- 
tions  named,  since  onr  only  pnrjiose  has   heeii   to  i)oint  ont    the  ad- 


CIVIC    CKXTIOUS    FOI!    ST.    LOUIS.  53 

vaiitaye.s  of  i)l;iiiiit;  llicsc  inst  itiilioiis  iicju-  In^i-tlicv  iuid  sii^^^rsl  int;  a 
jiractical  way  of  ulitaiiiiiiii  these  aihaiitafies. 

Tlie  Coiniiiittec.  wlieii  it  first  iiiulcrtook  the  investijiatioiis  eiiihodied 
ill  tliis  rejKirt,  was  aiiiiiiated  l»_v  a  tlieoretical  helic^f  in  llie  value  of  i-ivic 

centers,  an<l  hv  an  iil-di'lined  feeiin<;-  tliat  siicli  institii- 
After-Word.      tioiis    wouhl    tend    towards    the   de\clo])in<'nt    of    hetlei- 

citizenship.  A  more  careful  study  of  existinji' conditions, 
however,  has  c<>n\inced  ns  that  these  institutions  ai-e  ahsoliitely 
ossential  factors  in  the  wholesome  development  of  a  lar<;e  city  of  today. 
The  indiscriminate  hei'(lin,u  td.uetlier  of  large  masses  of  human  heinjis 
ijiiiorant  of  the  simplest  laws  of  sanitation,  the  evils  of  child  labor,  the 
corii]|)tion  in  ]iolitical  life,  iind,  above  all,  the  weakenini>-  of  the  ties 
\\hich  bind  together  the  home — these  are  dangers  which  strike  at  tiie 
very  roots  of  society.  To  cond)at  them  the  government  must  em]>loy 
every  resource  in  its  ])ow'er.  Schools  and  libraries,  ])laygrounds  and 
public  baths,  by  de\('lo])ing  their  minds,  training  their  bodies  and  uj)- 
building  the  character  of  a  ])eo])le,  furnish  the  foundation  upon 
which  a  nation's  welfare  dejx'nds.  Self-preservation  is  a  law  of  nature 
for  nations  as  well  as  individuals,  and  u])on  the  chara<ter  of  its  ])eople 
de[)ends  the  preservati(ui  of  the  State. 

CIVIC  CENTERS  COMMITTEE. 

Dw'KinT  F.  Davis.  Chairman. 
Miis.  Philip  N.  Moore. 
Frkdehick   G.    Zeibig. 
Hexrv  Wright. 


Inner  and  Outer  Parks  and  B()ule\  ards 


A    COMPLETE    SYSTEM    CONNECTING    EXISTING    PARKS 
AND    FOREST    RESERVATIONS    IN    THE    COUNTY 

N(>farlcii  ill  iiniiii(i](iil  iiii|pi'(i\('iii('iits  ]ilii\s  a  iiioi-r  imjKn  lain  jiarl 
ill  llic  ]iin])cr  ]ili\si(al  and  innral  (lc\cl(>])iiiciii  of  a  citx's  ]m()iii- 
hiliiMi  llian  an  a(l<'<nialr  parlc  area  and  a  \\('ll-arraniicd  and 
\\cll-('(|uiii]i('d  jiaik  system.  Tlic  future  cilizcnslii])  (if  our  ]M)]iiii(ms 
cciilcis  (li']icnds  ill  a  lii-car  iiicasiii-c  n|)ciii  liic  licalllifiil.  rcfi-csliiiiii- 
and  nplifdni;  iiiHucnccs  wiiicli  we  throw  aliont  lliciii  in  iIk-  form  of 
recreation  facilities  and  tlie  iieauties  of  natiual  sreiierv.  While  paries 
are  of  inestimalih'  value  in  makin;Li  a  city  invitinii  to  desirahle  residents 
and  \isiiors.  furiiishini;  pleasant  di-ives  to  ilio~;e  who  can  afford  these 
luxuries,  addinj;  to  the  value  of  real  estate,  and  jiromotinji  the  general 
prosperit\',  these  are  matters  of  small  consideration  when  comjiared  to 
the  imperative  necessity  of  su])]dyinii  the  ,ii;r<'at  mass  of  the  ])eople  with 
some  means  of  recrealion  lo  rejievi-  the  iiniiatural  sinroiiiidiiii:s  in 
crowded  cities. 

.\n  extensive  park  and  ]iaik\\a.\   system  is  all  the  more  important 
in  an  inland  city  like  St.  Louis,  which  is  situated  far  from  the  iii\ii:- 
oratiUii    effects   of    the    lake   or   ocean    breezes   and    the 
Parks  in  natural  attractiveness  of  a  hroad  water-front.     What 

Inland  Cities,  f'l'"  iulaud  city  lacks  in  these  natural  features  it  must 
make  up  in  iieautiful  jiarks  and  dii\es.  The  desire  foi- 
out-door  life  is  rapidlx'  increasing  anionii  our  jieojile.  In  this  (diniate 
for  six  months  of  the  year  it  is  possihle  to  live  mtu-li  out  of  doors.  This 
out-door  life  must  he  made  more  and  more  attiactive  as  our  |)o]»ulation 
increases,  which  means  that  paiks,  playui-oiiiids  and  ]iarkways  must 
he  jjenerously  provided  hy  the  municipality. 

St.  Louis  today  has  a  total  ])ark  area  of  2,:iS(;  acres,  including  in 
all   twenty-four  diHeicnt  jiarks  or  si|uares.     Of  this  area  '[,7lS  acres 
aic  i-onipiclieiided  ill  the  three  laiu<'r  parks,  CaKuide- 
St.  Louis  Park      J<'L  Forest  and  <>"FalI<m  I'ark.s.     So  far  as  actual  ]»ark 
Area.  area    is    concerned    St.    Louis    today    holds    its    rank 

anionji  the  first  cities  of  the  country,  hut  it  is  seriously 
lacking  in  a  \\cll-detiiie(l  and  well-connected  system.  The  \arious 
parks  are  iscdated  and  unconnected.     They  are  known  and  used  only 


Y.    -r 


—      X 


INNKIt    AND    (IITKI!    PAUKS    AMI    ItOtLEVAUDS.  55 

liy  tlic  people  ill  ilieii-  ]);ii-l  ituliir  scotiiiii  (if  tlic  city.  Vcw  <>(  <iiir 
citizens  ever  visit  ( 'aroudelet  I'iiriv,  althouiih  it  is  a  place  of  rare  Iteautv 
and  attractiveness,  because  for  veliicles  tliere  is  no  adequate  approach 
and  tlie  street  car  line  is  tlii-ei'  hjncks  from  the  entrance.  r>ent<in  Park, 
a  lireatliiiiii  sjint  (if  striUinuIy  iiaiural  lieanty  is  iiracticall v  inikudwn 
Id  tile  citizens  (if  the  West   end  and    niirlh   St.   Ldiiis. 

Vi.sltors  fiet  only  a  discdnnected  impression  (if  tlie  attractive 
featni-es  (if  this  city,      in  ilie  cdurse  of  a  half-day's  drive  tliey  see  tlie 

natural  beauty  of  Forest  I'ark,  the  stateline.ss  of 
Parks  private  residences  in  the  \v(^st  end,  and  the  diiiiiity 

Not  Connected.      "f  sdine  of  liie  lar^c  business  blinks,  but  iliese  iiiiajies 

are  greatly  marred  liy  tlie  unattractive  streets  over 
which  they  are  cdiiipelled  to  drive  in  order  to  see  these  unrelated  points 
of  beauty.  St.  Loui.s,  located  as  it  is  in  the  bend  of  the  river  and 
spreading  fan-shaped  td  tlie  west,  lends  itself  admirably  to  the  a(biptidii 
of  a  well-defined  park  and  bdiilevard  ]ilan. 

^Vith  these  })oints  in  view  we  have  outlined  two  parallel  and  c<m- 
necting  boulevards  and  parkways  encircling  the  city  and  uniting  all 
of   the   existing   parks   within   the   city   limits,   a 
A  Complete  tlidKinghfai-e   in   the  county,  and  also  a  chain  of 

System  Outlined.  (inter  )iarks  ((innecred  by  improved  highways.  The 
tirst  is  Kingshighway,  for  Avhich  provision  is 
already  made;  the  second,  a  boulevard  along  the  DesPeres  River  and 
encircling  tiie  city  to  the  udith  iiaiallel  to  King.shiglnvay  and  the  city 
limits;  the  third,  a  broad  iidrlli  and  sdiith  thdi'dughfare  in  the  county 
parallel  w  itli  city  limits  and  cdiineciing  the  suluirban  towns;  the  fourth, 
an  diiier  belt  park  system  in  St.  Louis  County  similar  to  the  Metro- 
politan I'ark  System  (if  Ibisldii  and  the  recently  addpted  ("hicago  outer 
belt  ]iark  jilan. 

THE    KINGSHIGHWAY 

The  Kingshighway  was  out  lined  some  fdiir  years  ago.  the  muney 
has  been  a])])ropriate(l  and  the  plans  for  its  cdiistructidii,  which  have 
t'dlldwed  cldsely  the  original  re]idrt  (if  the  Kingshighway  rommi.ssion, 
are  jiractically  completed.  In  this  report  only  a  summary  of  that  able 
and  e.\haustlve  plan  need  be  given.  This  will  be  in  the  form  of  an 
outline  (if  tlie  bdiile\ard  as  it  is  actually  jilanned  liy  the  Street  Depart- 
ment. 


56  A     CITY     ri.AN     lOli    SAINT     I.OIIS. 

Kin<islii}:;lnviiy  will  iiciiiii  ;ii  itic  foot  of  ("iildwcll  Sli-ccI,  just  south 
of  tlic  foi  iiici-  icsidcucc  of  the  late  Cliiiilcs  T.  ("iioutcau.  uow  kuown 

as  the  Altcnhciiu.  aud  cnciiclf  the  citv  hy  wav  of  the 
Kingshighway  three  lariic  ])ai'ks  to  the  Chain  of  Hocks  on  the  north. 
Southeast.  At  thefuul  uC  < 'ahiwrll  Street  six  aires,  or  three  Mocks 

of  ground  having  a  frontaiic  of  al)ouI  l.dOO  fei-l  on 
lli(  ii\-ei  lilulT,  will  he  ]tnrchase(l.  This  will  fmiiisli  a  ])leasaiit  recrea- 
tion aica  o\'ei  lookiii:.;  the  lnoa<l  .Mississi]»])i,  and  will  conniiaml  a 
iiiauiiihcent  \iew  up  ami  down  the  ri\er.  I'mm  ilii<  hhilT  ]iark  the 
course  of  the  lioulevard  will  lead  across  i'.roadwax'  on  a  \iaduct  west- 
waidly  aloiiii  Caldwell  Street,  widened  to  l:!(l  feet,  to  (Jraiid  Avenue; 
thence  south  alonii Crand  A\'enue  to  ('aroiidelet  i'ark.  (irand  Avenue 
is  to  he  widened  to  120  feet.  Kansas  Avenue,  the  nortiiern  houndary 
of  Carondcdet  Park  and  the  route  of  the  houlevard  west,  is  to  Ite 
widened  to  1(10  feet,  and  a  huililiui;  line  of  fifteen  feet  is  estahlished. 
At  ilie  noiihwcst  coi'uer  of  Caroiidelel  I'ai-k  is  a  strip  of  ihirtv  acres, 
containinii  a  heautiful  natural  lake.  This  strip  will  he  |)urchased  and 
nia(h' a  ]>art  of  Carondelet  I'ark.  I'roiii  Carondelet  I'ark  the  houlevai-d 
will  f(diow  Kansas  Avenue  aloni;  the  entire  north  line  o(  ilic  park  and 
we-a  to  Carlsliad  .\vciiiie:  tioin  iliis  point  it  will  extend  nortliwest- 
wardly  across  (Jravois  JJoad  at  Sclioenlatrs  (ii-ove  to  Kinnshiiihway 
just  south  of  Soutiianipton ;  from  Carlshad  Aven\ie  to  Kin.iishii;hway 
the  houlevard  will  follow  a  deep-woo(h'd  valley.  Twelve  acres  of  land 
skirtinn  the  stream  will  he  purchased  and  iicaieil  as  a  continuous  ]»ark 
ahout  a  iinle  in  leiitith.  So  far  as  ]iossil>le  the  natural  growth  of  trees 
will  he  retained. 

From  Nottinjiham  A\'enue  north  to  I'on-st  i'ark  the  jiarkway  will 
follow  the  Kiuiishijihway.  whicli  is,  for  the  entire  distance,  1(10  feet 

in  width.  I'roiii  DeAonshire  Avenue  to  ()]d  Man- 
King'shig'hway  cjiestei  Koad  Kinushif^liway  is  occupied  li\  street 
West.  railway  tracks.     Since  these  tracks  are  permanent  the 

houh'vard  w  ill  he  widened  sufliciently  to  have  a  road- 
way forty  feet  on  each  side,  thirt  v-six  feet  space  for  the  tracks,  and  room 
for  a  row  of  trees  on  either  side  separating  the  track  s])ace  from  the 
roadway. 

To  hreak  the  mouotouy  of  a  lonj;  straiiiht  flrive  from  Forest  I'arl< 
to  Nottingham  Avenue,  it  is  hopeil  that  the  forty-six  acres  of  land 
owned  hy  the  Chri.sty  Fire  Clay  Company,  situated  hetween  Pernod 
Road  and  Nottingham  Avenue  on  the  east  side  of  Kin^Lrshiuhwav,  will 


The    Kingshighway 


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THK  KlNtiSHIGHWAY.  NINETEEN  MILES  IN  LENGTH. 
Proviild  For  in  ihc  Rcccni  Bond  [siue. 


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INNKl!    AM)    OITKU    i'AUKS    AMI    r.dll.KVAKDS.  57 

liH  donated  to  tlic  city.  It  is  froTii  one  to  twenty  feet  liciow  the  jii-adc 
of  King'sliijiliway  and  is  rnjijicd  and  Iirolccn.  If  properly  treated  it 
would  add  greatly  to  tlie  heanly  of  tlic  drive,  and  scrsc  as  a  local  park 
in  a  section  not  now   |M-o\idc'(|  for. 

Along  tills  section  of  the  lioulevard  is  Tower  Grove  Park.  At  its 
western  end  tlie  park  is  reached  from  Kiiiiisliiinlnvay  by  au  insiffnificant 

entraiH-e  entirely  out  of  liarnionv  with  its  future  inipor- 
Entrance  to  tance.  A  stri]i  of  land  iM'id  feet  in  widfli  now  jyini: 
Tower  Grove.      Iietwccn  tlie  pai'k  and  the  ])ro|)ose(l  lioulevanl  will  he 

a((|uired  and  made  a  part  of  the  jtark  from  Arsenal 
to  Old  Manchester  IJoad.  This  will  permit  extensive  park  treatment 
and  liive  a  di.nnitied  entrance  to  Tower  drove  Park  from  either  direc- 
tion. In  oi-der  to  coini)lete  this  entrance  to  the  park  the  narrow  stri]i 
iuterveuinii  lu'tween  the  ]»ark  and  .Maiinolia  should  he  ])ur(hased  hy 
the  city. 

The  land  on  lioili  sides  of  the  .Missouri  I'acitic  and  the  I'risco  Uail- 
ways  is  now  and  will  hereafter  he  e.xtensively  u.sed  for  manufacturing 
purposes,  and  it  will  therefore  he  necessary  to  constnict  in  time  a 
viaduct  to  cross  the  railways  and   streets   that    will   he  recjuired    for 

f>;eneral  trattic.     This  sti-in-turc  will   1 f  stone  or  conncic.  and   will 

reach  from  .MdJee  .Vxcniie  on  the  south  to  Swan  .V\cniie  on  the  north. 

Alon.n  the  eastern  line  of  l'(U-est  Park  the  arrangement  of  jiark 
drive,  plantiuii  sjiace  and  service  street  is  excellent  and  will  reipiire 
no  chauiie.  The  present  improvement  has  produced  a 
Forest  Park  stately  avenue  enhanced  in  interest  hy  leaving  the  jiark 
Front.  jilantinii   sutlrtciently  oi)en   to   permit   of  distant   views 

into  the  park.  The  two  turns  in  the  park  drive  will  in 
time  he  im]u-oved  liy  some  monumental  structni-es.  titiini;  statues  or 
fountains  centeriuj;'  on  the  driveway  in  each  direction. 

From  the  northeast  corner  of  Forest  Park  to  Easion  Avenue,  Kiniis- 
hisiiiway  is  fully  im]>roved  with  an  as|)hall  roadway  sixty  feet  wide, 
sidewalks  eight  feet  wide,  and  grass  plots  twe]\e  feet  wide.  As 
valuable  huildings  ai'e  already  erected  on  lioth  sides  no  change  is  c(ui- 
temjilated  in  this  di.strict,  except  the  removal  of  telephone  poles,  the 
planting  of  trees  and  the  rearrangement  of  sidewalks  \\here  irregulari- 
ties exist.  If  the  street  car  tracks  (ui  Kingshighway  from  ilcPherson 
Avenue  to  P(u-tland  Place  can  he  moved  to  some  other  street — which 
.seems  entirely  feasihle — a  serious  hiemish  will  tints  he  i-emoved  frotii 
this  wide  thorouiihfare. 


58  A    cnV    I'l.A.X     I'dU    .SAl.NT    Loris. 

From  Easton  Avenue  iiorlliwardlv  to  Natural  Iiridtic  Koad  I  lie  land 
on  eilliei'  side  of  Kinjislii>;Ii\\a.\'  is  nearly  all  vacant,  and  I  lie  land 
i-e(inireil  for  wideinuji  Kiuiisliinliway  at  this  plaee 
North  From  ^^ '"  '"'  l'd<en  t'nim  liotli  sides.     This  seciinn  ol'  Kin^s- 

Easton  Avenue.  Iiii;li\vay  will  lie  iiii|iro\-ed  liy  liuildini;  I  wo  dii\cways 
separaled  liy  a  park  stri]i  ahoul  fnrly  feel  in  width 
and  li,\  lesiriciiuii  liuildiniis  and  trntlic.  The  ado] it  ion  ol'  ihis  i  real  inenl 
will  Hiak(  it  jios^ihle  (o  loeale  a  handsome  slalne  oi-  a  I'oiinlain  on  llie 
jiaik  sliip  noi  111  ot  Easlon  .Vvenne  in  a  slraiiiht  line  with  the  conliiiu- 
ation  ol  the  center  line  of  Kinii'shiiihway  south  of  I'^aston  Avenue.  As 
Kin!nshi;Lj;liway  nuikes  a  sliar])  aniih'  at  I'^aston  .Vacuuc  the  chaniic  in 
w  idtli  w  ill  he  (d'fective  and  the  foiii-  lines  of  trees  w  ill  i;i\c  an  excellent 
backiiround  of  foliaiic  for  a  monumental  structure. 

Fiom  Natural  I'.ridue  iJoad  to  j'enro.se  Street  the  boulevard  will 
be  widened  from  Idd  feet  to  l(;4  feel.  In  this  section  tliei-e  will  be  a 
pleasuic  driveway  down  the  middle  of  the  boule\'ard,  with  service  drive- 
ways on  either  si(h'  and  sepaialed  liom  the  ]ileasure  t  horouiilifarcs  by 
park  strijis. 

iJeycuid  I'eniose  Street  the  boulevard  will  o|ien  into  a  pai'kway. 
Theic  is  a  i>ictures(iue  tract  of  laud  at  Ihis  ])oint,  and  i(  is  planned 
to  take  tifty  acres  for  park  jmrposes.  There  will  he  a  lake  in  its 
nudst,  and  around  this  the  hoidevard  will  be  disided,  one  part  ruuuiuii 
toward  (>'I''allon  Park  and  the  other  coin  inuiu^Li  toward  the  couut\  line 
and  Chain  of  Uocks. 

The  section  thai  swiuus  dow  ii  toward  •>"l''allou  I'ark  will  be  treated 
variously.  A  |»ai-k  streldi  will  be  laid  out  belween  the  entrance  to 
this  small  park  and  I'^nclid  and  .Marcus  A\'enues.  I'rom 
O'Fallon  Park  .Maicus  ut  Newsiead  Avenue,  aloui^  I'inlier  Sti-eet. 
Section.  there  w  ill  be  a  triple  system  of  drive\\ays,  one  (d'  tlieni 

beiui;  for  jileasure  and  the  others  foi-  ser\ice.  From 
Ihis  jioint  lo  the  entrance  of  (t'Falloii  I'ark  the  trealment  will  be 
uniform,  with  the  exception  of  tree-plantiui:  between  ihe  sidewalks 
and  the  curb  lines. 

The  other  branch  <d  the  boiile\ard,  from  the  small  ]iark  to  be  located 
heyond  I'eiirosi'  Street,  will  extend  to  ('alvary  .V\'enue  and  then  cross 
(Teraldin(  Avenue  to  I'.ei-navs  AAcnue.  From  l>eriia\s  to  Thrush 
Avenu(  ihi'  system  will  jiass  tliroui;li  un])latted  ]Uo]peit\-  and  will  be 
100  feet  wide,  the  roadwa\'  beiuj:  fifty  feet  wide  and  the  sidewalks 
twenty-fivi'.  This  is  a  rouiih  siretidi  of  oround  and  elaboj-ale  park  work 
is  jdanned. 


:iit^r^^ 


f't.WIXF.    IX    OFAl.I.ON"    PARK. 


IN.NKI!    AM)    (H  Ti:i!    I'AKKS    AM)    IlOILKVAItDS.  59 

Eutcriii<r  Tlit'kla  Avenue  at  Tlinish  ami  coutiuuin};  throujili  to 
I'arti'idiic  Avenue,  tlie  l)()ulevar(l  will  Im-cuiiic  one  of  tlie  most  Iieantfinl 
of  its  kind  in  tlie  country,  .^lonu  this  tlioron^lifare  it  will  l)e  ItiO  feet 
wiil(  ami  have  two  service  driveways,  with  a  pleastire  drive  in  the 
c«'uter.  At  the  intersection  of  Thekla  and  Partridjje  Avenues  the 
boulevard  will  turn  towards  the  city  limits,  follow  the  hijwhlands  skirt- 
iuj>-  Calvary  Cemetery  to  the  Tracy  Koad,  thence  continuing  in  a 
northerly  direction  on  curved  lines  to  the  hluffs  on  the  Mississippi 
Kiver,  and  following  the  crest  of  the  hlntfs  for  four  and  oni'-half  miles 
to  the  ( "liain  of  Kocks. 

.V  portion  of  the  route  will  l)e  outside  of  the  city  limits,  where  the 
powers  i>(  the  city  to  condcniii  a  right-of-way  are  restricted,  hut, 
fortunately,  the  property  owners  along  the  route  have  indicate<l  a 
willingness  to  donate  the  greater  jtortion  of  land  for  this  purpose. 

If  in  time  the  city  desires  to  acquire  the  eastern  or  wcjoded  portion 
of  the  Fair  Grounds,  a  connecting  drive  can  be  established  between 
the  Fair  Grounds  and  the  Bircher  Koad  drive. 
The  Fair  Grounds.  This  portion  of  the  Fair  Grounds  wouM  he  a  valu- 
able addition  to  the  park  area  and  the  boulevard 
extension  would  fiirni.sh  a  connection  between  the  park  system  and 
Grand  Avenue. 

The  completion  of  this  magnificent  parkway  from  river  to  river,  a 
distance  of  nineteen  miles,  tying  together  its  great  parks  and  the 
residential  section,  will  return  to  the  city  and  the  abutting  land  owners 
many  times  its  cost  in  the  increase  of  property  values,  as  well  as  in  the 
])leasure  of  the  citizens  in  its  use,  and  will  become  an  enduring  monu- 
ment to  the  energy  and  civic  pride  of  8t.  Louis. 

RIVER   SIDE   DRIVE 

In  the  i)lans  thus  far  presented  only  three  small  areas  of  the  mag- 
niticeiit  liver-front  have  l)een  included:  the  bluffs  at  Caldwell  Street, 

the  ("bain  of  Kocks  on  tlie  north,  and  Hissell's  I'oint 
A  Beautiful  Bluff  ■"  ''"'  '""'  "^  Grand  Avenue.  We  believe  that  no 
Drive.  comprehensive  plan   for  park  <levelopment  should 

fail  to  include  some  ])ortion  of  the  ten  miles  of 
tvater-front,  particularly  in  the  .southern  portion  of  the  city.  From 
President  Street,  just  north  of  the  Marine  Hospital  for  a  distance  of 
a  mile  or  more  smith  to  Caldwell  Street,  is  a  range  of  bluffs  whi<h 
are  susceptible  of  almost  unlimited  improvement  as  a  beautiftd  drive 


60  A     (ITV     ri.AX     FOU    SAINT    I.OIIS. 

and  pill  kwav.  Tlicv  arc  coniiioscd  of  snlid  wall-*  nf  liincstoiic  from 
twcnt.v  lo  Inriv  feet  aliovc  ilic  Hacks  of  ihc  Iron  .Moniilain  liailmail 
w'liicli  skills  ilic  river  to  lli<'  soiilli.  'I'lic  lops  of  llicsc  hliill's  alTord  a 
sujtcrl)  \i('W  ol'  ihc  Cahokia  Uolloms.  the  dislaiil  liills  on  Ilic  Illinois 
side,  and  a  swceji  of  tlic  river  hoili  norlii  and  soiiili.  Al  llic  jiresciil 
time  lliese  hluirs  are  cillier  heinii'  scon])ed  oil'  for  brick,  (iiiarried  for 
sfoiK  .  or  are  practical]\  iinoccnpied.  I'-roin  President  Streel  soiitii  to 
("aldwcll  Street  the  oiiiv  ltnildinj;s  of  any  )ierniaiiencv  wliicli  would 
interfeie  willi  llie  di'\'eiopiiien!  of  a  rixcrside  ilri\('  are  the  residences 
just  norlli  of  ( 'aldwell  Street,  llie  Altenlieini  and  llie  City  Work  House. 
In  order  to  avoid  tlie  residences  and  llie  Alleiilieiiii,  a  sliiihl  de\iation 
conld  III  made  to  tlie  west  of  South  Itroadway.  In  the  case  of  the 
"Work  House,  this  pro|ieitv  alreadv  lieloin;inii'  to  the  cit\.  should,  in 
time,  hecome  a  small  jiark  and  the  Work  House  should  he  removed  to 
some  other  locality. 

In  order  to  coniieci  ilie  north  and  south  driveway  recommended 
hy  the  Street  <'ommittec  wilh  the  Kiiii;slii^li\\a\'  terminns  at  < 'aldwell 
Street,  and  iii\(  to  tlu'  cit\  what  it  lon,i>-  ai^o  should  lia\e  secured — a 
heaiitifnl  riverside  drive — we  recommend  that  the  city  condemn  and 
purchase  a  striji  of  land  aloni;-  the  river  hliiH's  '2(H)  to  :*)l)t>  feel  wide. 
extendinu  from  tlu'  foot  of  President  Street  to  the  terminus  of  the 
Kiniishiyhwa.N'  at  Caldwell  Street,  and  in  lime  de\elop  alonii'  this  route 
a  wide  thoroniihfare  lined  wilh  trees  oii  the  west  and  o]ien  on  the  east 
to  an  nnohstrncted  \  iew  of  i  he  ri\er.  ( »n  the  east  side  of  this  dri\eway 
should  lie  cousii  iicied  a  cement  or  i;ravel  sidewalk  t  wehe  to  tifteeii  feet 
in  width.  This  jiai  kway  would  serve  for  all  time  as  a  broad  jiromeiiade 
for  pedestiians  and  an  ojien  jdaza  for  the  residents  of  that  jiortion  of 
the  city. 

Itelweeii  President  aiul  ^\'illneba.^^>  streets  and  e.xtendiiii;'  almost 
to  the  ii\er-fioiit  is  the  I'liited  States  ^lariue  Hospital  site,  occuiiyiiii;' 

some  tifteen  acres  of  i;ronnd.  well  adapted  and 
A  Park  at  Marine  hicaled  foi-  ]iark  imrposes.  In  time  the  <iovei-nment 
Hospital  Site.  mii;ht    lie  induced  to  transfer  the  Hospital  site  to 

the  city.  To  tills  should  be  added  the  strij)  of  laud 
ou  tin  north  hetween  the  lios]>ital  ijTouuds  and  President  Street,  and 
the  strip  to  the  east  between  tlie  (Jovernmeiit  jirojierty  and  the  ed;;e 
of  the  hlnffs.  This  area  of  about  f<trty  acres  would  not  oul\  supply 
au  admirable  river-front  park  to  a  section  of  the  city  where  it  is  much 
needed,  but  also  furnish  a  tittinji'  junction  between  the  rixerside  drive 


^^m 

--,j^\ 

■ 

RorxK  oi-"  ri\1':rsidi-:  druI'.. 

Oil   Bluffs  Xear  Cald\vi-ll  Slri'i't  OvorlookiiiK  tlio  Mississippi. 


IX.VKIt    AM)    OlTKi:     I'AKKS    AND     IIOILKX' AKDS. 


61 


;Miil  llir  iiiii-ili  and  siiiilli  liDiilcNanl.  The  Work  Ilniisc  site,  willi  an 
aiva  of  alxiiil  five  acres,  should  also  Ik;  made  a  small  i-ivi-r-froiit  park, 
wliicli  would  furnish  an  interesting  break  in  the  parkway  from  I'rcsi- 
dcni  Street  to  ('aldwell  Street. 

'I'his  coHuectinii  rivci-sidc  dri\c.  fui-nisliini;  a  more  picturescpie  view 
than  any  ('([ual  area  in  the  entire  city,  can  he  seeured  at  the  present 
lime  lor  a  comparatively  reasonable  sum.  If  its  ]iurcha.se  i.s  postponed 
many  years  permanent  residences  will  either  lie  built  along  the  l)lurts 
or  they  will  be  ruined  by  brick-makers  or  stone  (luarries.  St.  Louis 
has  an  oppoi-tunity  in  this  instance  similar  to  that  of  New  York,  some 
years  ago,  when  the  route  of  the  Kiverside  Drive  was  occupied  l)y 
sliani  ies  and  ilila]iidated  residences.  New  York  was  far-sighted  enough 
to  secure  at  a  nominal  cost  these  sloping  bluffs  as  a  park  and  jiarkway 
for  the  i^eople.  Today  one  of  the  important  sights  in  the  great 
metrojiolis  is  the  famous  Kiverside  Drive  along  the  bluffs  overlooking 
the  Hudson  and  com  n  landing  a  splendid  \ie\\-  of  the  beanl  iful  jialisades 
on  the  Jersey  shore. 


Riverside  Drive,   New  York. 
Saint   Louis  Still  has  the  Opportunity  for  a  Similar  Drive. 


62  A    CITY     IT.AN     I'OI!    SAINT    l.OIIS. 

Wlicii  we  iccmII  I'iiris,  witli  iis  (|ii;iys,  (i-cclincd  :iii(l  cxtciHliiii:  llic 
full    Ii'Iil;||i   lit   Ilic  city  aloiin  ciu-li   liiiiik  of  llic   l!i\cr  Si-iiic;    Lnmloii, 
witli   its  \'icl(iri;i    ICinliiiiikiiiciil  ;    Itinliiprsi    wiili    its 
River  Front  Itrnad  |)i-(iiiiciiii(lrs,  |ialalial  jMililic  Iniildinus  ami  IVc- 

Treatment  (pn'iil   jiaik  spaces  facinii  and   IViiijiiiii;'  the  l>amilic; 

in  Other  Cities.  (iiicaiin  widi  its  laiiums  Slicridaii  i)ri\(';  Diiliilh 
with  its  splendid  IJonlcvai'd  I)ri\c  skii-lin;:  Lalvc 
Sn|)('ii<)i,  and  liic  c(<ntcni|ilatcd  a\  alcr-l'innl  inipinxniicnls  in  < 'lc\c- 
lami.  Dcti-oit,  Kansas  ("ity,  ^Icnipliis  and  a  seme  of  smaller  cities,  we 
are  inclined  to  urge  especially  t lie  earl \  aciiniicnieni  hy  llie  cil  xof  this 
l>orti(>n  of  our  long  ueglected   Imt    iieaiilifnl  and  s])lendid   ri\cr  front. 

THE    DES    PERES    BOULEVARD 

Tli(-  second  encircling  boulevard  jirojected  hv  tlie  <'ommiltee  has 
lioih  an  a"-;tlietic  and  utilitarian  inotiNc. 

I'oi  many  xcai-s  the  meandering  Kixcr  Desrere^  has  heeii  a  vexing 
engineeiiiig  pii)ldeni  to  the  i'ark.  Street  and  Sewer  Depart nn-nts,  and 
a  menace  to  the  health  of  people  living  ahuig  its  hanks.  During  lieavx' 
storms  it  rises  from  twehc  to  lifleen  feel  and  floods  a  considerahle 
area  mi  either  hank,  causing  damage  to  |)aik  land,  liejds  and  faclorie-i. 
Tin  high  waters  in  the  Kiver  Desl'eics  are  in  jiarl  due  to  the  extreme 
ciookediiess  cd'  the  stream's  course,  it  measures  ahout  sixteen  and 
oiie-liaJI  miles  along  the  ]>resent  course  from  the  north  side  of  I'orest 
Park  to  its  mouth  at  the  Missi.ssipju  lliver,  Imi  it  can  easily  he  straight- 
eiw'd  ami  reduced  to  nine  ami  one-half  miles  in  length.  The  sti-aight- 
ening  of  the  stream  would  increase  the  velocity  of  the  water,  lower  the 
lieigiit  ot  the  flood  line  and  greativ  reiluce  the  damages  caused  hy 
overflows.  So  long  as  the  stream  is  allowcil  to  |iursne  its  present 
meandering  course  it  is  useless  to  sjiend  inone\  loi-  ornamentation 
along  tin  river  in  Forest  Park,  hecause  these  consiiinth'  rectirring 
Hoods  will  desiio\-  all  etTotIs  to  make  the  hanks  id'  the  stieam  ailisiic. 

Furtheiniore,  the  rapidlv'  increasing  urhan  population  immediatelv 
Iteyoud  the  city  limits  and  the  surface  drainage  fi  om  these  sulnirhan 
villages  have  made  the  liiv<'r  Desl'eres  nothing  less 
Better  Drainage  than  a  foidsmelling  open  sewer.  .Vs  the  snlnirlian 
Alongf  Des  Peres.  area  increases  and  the  southwestern  distiict  along 
tin  east  side  (d  the  I)esi'eres  is  sulMli\id<'d  and 
liei-omes  t  he  home  (d  t  lionsauds  of  snial  1  pi  opei  i  v  ow  nei--<,  it  will  hecome 
ahsolutely  ini])erative  tliat  the  cit  \  take  some  siejis  to  care  for  the  large 
ainoiint  of  sewage  (-(uninu  from  the  count  \. 


The  Skixe,   Paris. 


I-'UA.NKI  llKT,    CiKKMANN  . 

RIN'ER    FRONT    TREATMENT    IN    EUROPEAN    CITIES. 


IXXEU    AND    orTKi;     I'AKKS    AND    IIOIT^KVAKUS. 


63 


Accnrdim;'  to  tlic  plaiis  now  liciii^  (Ic\cIo|iim1  liy  tlic  Scwci-  DcpiU'l- 
iiii'iil.  llic  lloiU'd  of  I'liblic  Iiii]ii-ovtMii('iits  will  lie  requested  t(t  authorize 

ii  partial  straijilitening  of  the  stream,  aud  tlie  constnic- 
Des  Peres  ^^^^  ^^  ^  sewer  from  Forest  l*ark  along  and  to  one  side 
Boulevard.       <>f  the  new  river  hed  to  the  Mississippi  Ri\cr.  a  distance 

of  about  eiglil  miles.  The  Desl'eres  River  would  then 
he  used  onI\  as  a  tlood  liasiu.  In  eonnection  with  this  extensive  sewer 
foiisli  ucl  ion  the  cit.N'  siiould  condenin  a  strip  of  land  300  to  500  feet 
w  id(  I  Ik  full  length  of  the  river  aud  establish  a  park\\a\  along  each 
side  of  the  projected  channel  extending  froin  McC'ausiand  .\ venue 
southwest  to  (Irand  Avenue  iji  Carondelet.  Provision  should  be  made 
also  for  single  street  car  trac  ks  well  protected  by  shruhbery  on  either 
side  of  till'  stream.    The  sloping  itanks  of  the  ri\'er  sliould  be  sodded  and 


Broad  Drivk.s.  With  Street-C.\r  Line.s  on  Either  Side. 


oinamented  with  trees  and  shrulis.  At  fre(|uent  intervals  a  foot  bi-idge, 
and  now  and  llicn  a  slone  bridge  foi-  N'eliicies,  sliould  span  the  open 
basin.  At  three  or  four  points  along  the  boulevard  tracts  of  land  lifty 
to  one  hundred  acres  in  area  should  be  secured  by  private  donation 
or  li_\  condenination  ])i-ocee(lings  and  develojx'd  into  park  land.  These 
small  jiarks  along  the  course  of  the  stream  would  furnish  a  diversity 
from  the  otherwise  long  straight  dri\-eway. 

I'rom  a  point  in  the  vicinity  of  Grand  Avenue  in  ("arondelet  the 
direction  of  the  boulevard  could  be  changed  to  the  southeast  and  ex- 
tended along  Telegrajili  Koad  to  .Tefferson  Harracks,  thus  comi»leting 
a  s|)leiHlid  driveway  ten  miles  in  length  and  through  a  section  of  the 
city  which  is  destined  in  time  to  be  a  residential  district. 

If  the  plans  for  this  imi)rov('nient  are  completed  at  an  early  date 
m\icli  of  the  land  necessar\   for  liie  boulevard  and  drainage  system  can 


64  A    CITY    ri.AN     FOK    SAINT    I.Of'IS. 

Iicsccuicd  l)\  |n-i\  ale  fidiiilt  inn,  since  inusl  of  it  isnwncd  in  l;iri;c  Inicts. 
Tliat  which  is  not  (hmatcil  can  lie  condemned,  and  in  the  assi'ssmeiil 
ol'  daniaiies  and  hcin'fils,  the  itenelils  wonhl,  in  all  |irol)aliilit  \',  exceed 
the  (hnna.iics  sutticiently  to  jiay  lor  the  hind  taken.  The  estahlishnn-nt 
of  tho  Desl'eres  ItoulcNard  wonhl  enhance  ti\c(old  the  \alne  of  the 
real  estate  in  tin  vicinity  of  the  drixcway,  and  in  a  few  yeai-s  the 
iiH-rease  in  taxes  received  from  that  jiortion  of  the  city  will  haxc  ]>ai(l 
for  the  entire  iinprovenient. 

In  oi-der  to  coni]dete  tile  jtark  and  parkway  svsleni  within  Ihe  city 
limits,  and  fnMHsh  an  eas\  ;i]ipi-oach  to  \\'ashini;lon  I'niNcrsity.  which 
is  to  he  the  center  (d  cnltni-e  for  the  city,  and  to 
Boulevard  Along'  snpjily  the  rai)idl\  ^rowin^  sections  in  lli<'  \icinity 
Goodfellow  Ave.  "d  Dellodianiont  and  \\'ellstoii  with  a  connedinn' 
pai'kway,  we  wmihl  rec(Hiimend  the  extension  i<\'  the 
Desl'eres  Honlevard  from  its  junction  with  .McCausland  Avenue  noi-th 
aloiiii'  that  avenue  to  the  southwest  coi  ner  id'  {•"orest  Park,  thence  aloufj," 
Skiidcer  Road  and  the  west  houiidar\'  ()l  I'orest  Park  to  Walernniu 
Axcnne,  east  alonii  Waterman  A\-enne  to  (ioodfeilow  Avenue,  thence 
in)rth  alon^  (Ioodfeilow  A\'enue  to  the  Natural  Urid^c  Koad.  i-'i-nni 
this  jpoiid  it  should  he  projected  in  a  noi  theasterly  dii-ectiou  acioss  the 
district  yet  undeveloped  until  it  strikes  the  western  hranch  of  the 
KiniishiuhwMV  in  the  \icinity  of  Tracy  Koad.  <  ioodfeilow  A\enue  is 
selected  as  the  co\irse  for  the  houle\ard  liecause  it  is  alread\'  platted 
and  jierinaneiit  hridiics  Inue  heen  constructed.  It  is  als(»  free  from 
street  car  tracks,  and,  since  it  is  uiMm](ro\cd  o\-ei-  a  ui-eatei'  ]ioi-tion 
of  the  loute,  it  can  easily  Ite  w  idened  to  one  hundre(]  feet  or  more  and 
luojierly  ornamented  with  trees  and  shrnhiieiy. 

These  two  connect  iui;  houlevaid  systems  within  the  city — the  Kinjis- 
hi^hwax  exlendiui;  from  the  <'hain  of  Kocks  to  ('arond(det  Park  and 
the  i-iver,  and  the  DesPeres  l!onle\ai(i  reachin.ii  from  t'ahary  ('emetei-y 
and  tin  Tracy  Koad  to  J(dferson  IJarracks — will  i;ive  to  this  citj'  u 
jiarkwav  system  unsurpassed  in  variety  and  heauty  of  scenery  1i\'  any 
city  in  the  rnion,  with  the  possible  exce])tion  of  Boston.  The  total 
leujith  of  the  drives  and  jiaikwaxs  would  he  ahout  thirty-ti\'e  miles. 
When  we  stop  t(t  con.sider  that  Itoslon  luis  twenty-three  miles  of 
]iarkway  already  completed,  t'hicaiio  twenty-nine  miles,  Kansas  ("ity 
twenty-five  miles,  and  sonu'  twenty  other  American  cities  are  projectinj;- 
extensive  systems,  this  c(unprehensi\e  jdan  for  St.  Louis  does  not. 
appear  too  amhitious. 


RIVER    DES    PERES    I\    Ft)REST    PARK. 
Should  be  Improved  and  Adapted  to  Rowing. 


INXKIi    AMt    (HTi:i(    I'AItKS    AMI    IIOILKVAKD.S.  65 


OUTER    PARKS    AND    THOROUGHFARES 

Tliirt y  Years  ajio  tlic  citv  limits  were  (JOO  tVct  west  of  (xiaiid  AvciiiK', 
and  then-  were  only  scattered  yroiijis  of  i-esideiices  west  of  tliat  a\iMmc. 

Tlie  jtopulatioii  llii'ii  was  less  (haii  .".(lO.OOO.  In  Ilic 
Rapid  Growth  of  llirec  di'iadcs  since  ihat  lime  tlie  city  limits  liaxc 
St.  Louis.  been  ]mslie(l  four  miles  fnrtliei-  west  and  the  pojin- 

lation  has  increased  40(».(I(I0.  or  ]:«  per  ceut.  If 
the  same  rate  of  increase  in  ](o]Milati()n  continues  for  thirty  years  to 
come,  this  city  will  then  contain  a  poi»ulation  of  a  million  and  three- 
quarter  inhahitants  and  the  limits  of  the  city  will  no  doubt  include 
A\'el)ster,  Kii-kwood,  Clayton,  Tniversity  City  and  a  munher  of  other 
suhurlian  towns. 

Obviously,  some  provision  should  be  made  for  connectinjj-  the  rapidly 
growing  suburbs  with  a  broad,  attractive  and  wcll-jiavcMl  thorouiihfare, 

before  the  territory  is.  so  built  up  as  to  make  the  co.st 
A  Suburban  "^  the  improvement  prohibitive.     At  present  there  is 

Thopoug'hfape.      no  hiohway  connecting-  these  towns.     With  this  need 

in  mind  we  have  selected  a  route,  following  as  far  as 
]»ossible  already  established  roads,  tlirougli  the  county  aliout  thi'ee 
miles  west  of  the  city  limits  and  connecting  Kirkwood,  AVelister  Gi'oves, 
Clayton,  Ferguson  and  other  suburbs  with  an  improved  thoroughfare 
of  not  less  than  100  feet  in  width.  The  th(U-oughfai-e  should  begin  at 
the  Chain  of  Rocks  on  the  nortli,  follow  the  (iibson.  Walker  and 
("hambers  Roads  due  west  to  Fergu.son,  through  Ferguson,  thence  in 
a  southwestwardly  direction  along  the  highlands  parallel  with  the  St. 
Louis  Belt  Line  Railroad  io  the  Woodson  Road;  thence  south  along 
the  Wood.son,  McKnight  and  Lay  Roads  to  the  Rockhill  Road;  thence 
south  along  the  Rockhill  Road  betwei'U  Wi-lister  and  Kirkwood;  thence 
in  a  soul lieastw ardiy  direction  along  Rockhill,  (iiand  and  l'ar<lee 
Roads,  across  (iravois  Roa<l  at  the  Rusch  Farm;  thence  due  south 
along  Raptist  Cliurch  Road  to  f>ap])ington  Road,  whei-(>  the  tiiorongh- 
fare  would  join  the  improved  highways  connecting  the  outer  park 
reservations. 

Kecogni/.ing  the  present  need  lor  larger  reci-ealion  areas  for  the 
mass  of  oui  peo]de  away  IVom  the  noise  and  dirl  of  tiie  city,  we  have 
projected  an  outei-  belt  park  system  in  St.  Louis  County,  similar  to  tlu' 
Metropolitan  I'ark  System  abouf  I'.oston,  the  I'>sse.\  County  System  in 


66  A    tITY    ri.AX     KOU    SAINT    I.OflS. 

New  .Icrsc.N'.  (he  (  llic;li;(i  l^n-csl  KcsclAMt  iuli  iilid  I  he  scliciiics  in-ojuiscd 
for  I'.jiltiiiiiin',  I'l-Kvidciicc,  \\';isliiTii;tc)ii,  Siiii  I'l-niicisrip,  I'ni-d.ind  and 
u  iiuinlicr  of  otlici'  .Vnicriraii  ritics. 

SI.  Kdiiis  ("ountv,  willi  its  luidiiliitiiiii'  siirfiicc,  funiislics  ;is  nmcli 
ln'iiutil'iil  scciicvy  as  can  lie  loniid  in  any  ('(|nal  ai-ca  alHinl  any  cily  in 

(lie  lan<l.  Here  and  IIiitc  arc  scdions  wiiicli  arc 
Beautiful  cs](C(ial]\   allrarliNc  hccausc  nf  ihc  unnsnal  char- 

Scenery  in  actcr  of  tlic  sccnci-y.      I'ovtions  of  tlicsc,  wlici-c  tlic 

St.  Louis  County.       tindicr  is  slill  ]ir<'scv\-cd  ami  wlicrc  tlic  trans|)orta- 

tion  system  is  alrcad\  pro\idc(],  slionld  lie  reserved 
for  tli(  lulurc  ])o])u]ation  of  St.  I.onis  and  its  environs.  The  outer 
|iarl<  areas  should  lie  conncctcil  li\-  well-]ia\'ed  roadways,  not  only  with 
each  other,  hut  also  directly  with  tlie  jiark  iiud  jiarUway  system  within 
the  city. 

l"or  the  onfer  jiark  system  we  would  make  the  folhiw  in.^  rcconi- 
mendat  ions : 

I'ii-st,  the  purchase  li\'  liic  cily  of  additional  jiaik  area  alouii  Ihi' 
liluri's  o\-ei  lookinii'   the   ("haiu   of    Kocks.      Tliis   licauliful    park   site   of 

forty  acres  should  he  increased  to  500  acres  or  more, 
Chain  of  Rocks  •""'  iuclud(  Ihe  wcioded  lilulfs  hoth  to  the  north  and 
Reservation.  smilh   of   the   present    park,  esjieciall.N'   tliose   lo   the 

north,  which  command  a  tine  sweep  of  the  ri\'er. 
This  ])iirk  A\ould  furnish  a  httinj;  terminus  lo  a  lonn  drive  emirclini;- 
the  city  throuiih  St.  Louis  County. 

To  lh(    north  of  the  city,  on  the  .Missouri   Iii\'er  ahout  seven  miles 
distant  ami  just  I'ast  of  Charlioniei-  Road,  lii'  the  St.  Ferdinand  ( "om- 
nu)u    Fields,    a    pai-t    of    which    are    very    hij;h    hlutfs 
Charbonier  oxcrlookiui;  the  .Missouri   liixcr.      I'^rom  the  top  of  the 

Reservation.  headlaiujs  can  he  seen  tiie  twn  liroad  i-ivers  and  the 
valley  lietween,  stretchinii  many  miles  in  either  direc- 
tion, nirectly  to  the  north,  aci-oss  hoth  rivers  and  on  the  east  hank 
of  the  .Missi.ssi]tpi,  can  be  seen  the  IMasa  liliilTs.  The  view  from  (he 
highest  point  of  the  Common  Fields  is  one  of  rare  heauty.  These  hlutfs, 
alonii  the  south  hank  of  the  Missouri  Ki\er,  some  ."lOO  aci-es  in  area, 
extendinji  from  Charhonier  Koad  northeast,  should  he  jiurchased  and 
connected  with  tlie  remainder  of  the  system  as  the  second  outer  park 
reservation. 


Route  of  Des  Peres  Boulevard 


*\ 


TVr'ICAl-    SI'CTIDNS,    ItlVEK    DIIS    PKUES    VAl.l.r^ 
Rniiii-  nl  tlic  Pr.iposctl  Dm  Pcrvs  Boiiltvaril. 


O 


INNKU    .\\r>    OITEU    PAUKI^    AND    r.OTf.EVAUDS.  67 

Td  ilic  ii(ii-ili\\csi  (if  the  cilx  mill  surriniiHiini:  ( 'rcvc  ("ipur  I^nkc  on 
tlic  ciist  is  ;i  siii])  (iT  ]irc(i])itoiis  hlntTs  licavily  wooded  and  lirokcn. 
The  licantiful  Idnffs,  witli  the  lake  at  tlicii-  liasc,  form  a 
Creve  Coeur  naiui-al  ]:aik.  wliicli  arlificial  ti'catnicnl  could  scarcely 
Reservation.  iiii|iin\c.  Ii  is  alicady  coiiiiecred  witii  tlie  ciiv  liv 
railioads.  strei-t  cars  and  roadways.  ( »ne  tiionsand  or 
liltceii  liiindii'd  acres,  inclndinii  the  lieadlands  and  tlie  \n\n\  shonhl  be 
secured  1)\  tli<  city  and  county  as  tin  IJiii-d  outer  jtark  area  to  be 
reseix'ed  for  rli(    pcojde  of  ihc  cilv  and  its  suluirlis. 

To  the  soutiiwcst  of  the  city,  overiookinii  the  wiiKiini:  .Meraniec 
River,  is  anollier  liKiup  of  wooded  and  ]ireci|)itous  liluffs  known  as 
.Meiaiuec  Highlands,  wliich  furnish  a  luajrnificent  view 
Meramec  "'  'I"'  ^It'i'aniec  A'aliey  and  the  surroiiudiiii;  country. 
Hig'hlands.  'I'liis  district  is  also  connected  w  itli  the  ciiv  liy  railroads. 
street  cars  ami  roadwa\s.  Five  hundred  or  one  tiionsaml 
acres,  skirting  tiie  river  to  the  soulii  and  east  niid  iucludini;  tlie  jiresent 
Ili.ulilamls,  should  lie  secured  as  the  fourth  jtark  r("<ei\ation. 

Kirectly  to  the  south  of  the  cit\-,  on  the  hanks  of  the  ilississii»i)i, 
the  National  (Jovernment  has  l,:.'.")!)  acres  of  W(dl\voo«le(I  land,  already 

a  well-(l('\clo]ied  |(ark  area.  <)nly  a  small  por- 
Jefferson  Barracks.      ''""  "t  'I'i"^  trad  is  at  the  present  time  in  actual 

use.  ami  the  ])rohahiIity  is  tliat  the  (Joveru- 
meiit  w  ill  use  luih  a  very  limited  jtortioii  i>\'  it  Un-  the  next  half  century. 
If  the  ( 'lovei  Iimelit  can  lie  induced  to  follow  precedents,  which  il  has 
already  estaldished  in  other  sections  of  the  country,  this  reservation 
can  !)('  made  a  natioiml  park,  frei'  and  open  at  all  times  to  the  jiulilio. 

In  order  to  link  to^icther  these  (ixc  outer  ]iark  reservations  aud 
make  them  most  accessilile  to  all  the  jH-ople,  we  would  su^^iiicst  either 
that  a  broad  boulevard,  1011  to  -MM  feet  wide,  conneciiiiii  these  reserva- 
tions be  piojected  in  the  couiitx',  ov  that  the  followiuii  county  roads  be 
well  ]ia\'ed  with  sioiie  or  ^i-a\cl  and  lined  with  shade  trees.  If  the 
latter  seems  more  feasiiile  we  would  sim;Li('st    the  fidlowinji'  roads: 

lleuinninii  at  the  (liain  *<(  Kocks  and  following;  Walker  and  ( "liam- 
l)er  Koads  west  to  Hall's  b'erry  IJoad,  thence  northwest  alonu  Hall's 
I''erry  IJoad  to  Parker  Koad.  wcsi  on  Parker  Koad 
A  Connecting"  throimh  Florissant,  thence  northeast  on  Charbonier 
Hig-hway.  Koad  to  tin-  I'ark  Ueservation  ovei  lookiiiii  the  .Missouri 

ITncr;  thence  aloiiii  the  .Missouri  Kiver  blulTs  to  ("reve 
('uMir  Lake  or  from  I'bu'issanl  aloULi  the  I'.ridiieton  Iload  southwest  to 
rattonville.  fium   Paitoiiville  norihwcsi  alon^  St.  Cjiarles  I{nck  Koad 


68  A    CITV     1>[,AN     I'OK    SAINT    I.OflS. 

to  Fefee  llicnl,  tliciicc  to  tlic  soiiiliwcst  jiluiii:  I'cfcc  HniKl  l<>  tlic  ( 'i-cvc 
rvpiir  Rcscrvjilioii ;  frfiin  ("rcve  <  "(i-ur  soiitli  aloiiji  W'odiT.s  .Mill  Koad 
to  ("omvay  Koail,  tlicinc  cast  to  New  Alsace,  tliciicc  south  aloiijj; 
Mason's  Road,  across  new  .Mancbcstpr  Road  to  .Mciaiiicc  Hifjlilands 
Reservation;  from  .Mcraincr  Hii;lilands  cast  on  Uiji  Rend  Road  to 
Sprinji:  Park  and  Denny  Road,  thence  southeast  alouii  the  Denny  Koad 
to  (Iravois  Road  just  south  of  Sa]»i>ini;ron,  tlic-ncc  cast  alonji'  Tiic  Saj)- 
pington  Road  to  Jefferson  I'.arracks. 

If  the  agitation  for  tlic  ini]»rovcnient  of  i-oads  in  the  county  thron.<ih 
district  or  tow  nsliijt  systems,  hy  w  liich  it  is  possildc  to  raise  more  than 
Sf!2.<)00.0n0  for  road  imi»rovements.  takes  definite  form,  no  lietter  selec- 
tion for  i-oad  iMiildinti'  could  lie  made  than  these  hiiiii\\a\s  encircliniL;' 
the  citA'  and  connect  inn'  the  Hve  ]iro]ioscd  reservations.  The  roads 
leading  directly  from  the  city  to  these  suggested  outer  ])arks  are  already 
paved;  Hall's  Ferry  Road  to  the  north,  Natural  Ilridge  Road  to  Creve 
Tanir,  I'.ig  Bend  Road  to  .Meramec  Highlands  and  Telegraph  Road  to 
Jefferson  P.arracks.  These,  of  courses  need  to  he  iiiiprovcd,  Iml  the 
encii-cling  liigliways  need  lirst  attention. 

Ii  slKuild  be  noted  that  each  of  these  proposed  icscrvations.  with 
one  exception,  the  Charhonier  Reservation,  is  connected  directly  witii 
the  city  by  railroads,  suburban  street  car  lines  and  i-ock  roads. 

A  comprelu-nsive  inner  and  outer  park  system  of  this  extent,  imliid- 
ing  some  three  tiiousand  acres  of  wnodcd  land  and  more  tlinn  sixty  miles 
of  boulevards  and  improved  roadways,  will  require 
Parks  and  considerable    legislation    and    the    expenditure    of 

Boulevards  Pay.  several  millions  of  ]>ul)lic  revenues,  but  the  legisla- 
tion can  be  secured  and  the  cnhaiiceil  value  id'  real 
estate  both  in  the  county  and  city,  resulting  from  these  imjirovements, 
will  soon  return  to  the  respective  treasuries  many  times  what  the 
improvements  cost.  The  ex]»erience  in  every  city  where  an  extensive 
park  and  boulevard  system  has  been  coiisiructcd  is  that  the  immediate 
effect  is  to  double  or  (piadrujile  the  valuation  of  property.  Parks  ami 
parkways  should  be  chissed  as  an  investment  to  a  city.  They  increase 
taxable  valuations  both  in  the  city  and  the  suburbs;  they  attract  a 
desirable  class  of  citizens ;  they  encourage  the  building  of  fine  residences 
along  the  driveways;  they  bring  tourists,  merchants  and  excursions; 
but  more  than  all  else  they  furnish  an  antidote  to  the  unnatural  con- 
ditions which  must  accom])any  tlie  segregation  of  large  populations 
in  crowded  cities.  A  future  test  of  civic  s])irit  in  American  cities  will 
be  the  care  which  they  show  for  the  ]diysical  and  moral  development  of 


I.XNKK    AM>    OlTKI!    I'AUKS    AM)    l;(irLK\Al{US.  69 

their  ii('(>])lc  liy  snjyplying  them  with  those  elements  of  nature  which 
city  life  tends  to  destroy. 

The  Committee  has  not  drafted  this  plan  for  an  inner  and  outer 
park  system  \\  itli  the  hope  and  expectation  of  seeinj^  it  all  carried  into 
effect  Avithin  the  next  five  or  ten  years,  but  it  is  offered  as  a  compre- 
hensive scheme  toward  which  the  city  can  strive  for  the  next  (|uarter 
of  a  century,  addinji'  section  after  section  as  the  circumstances  demand 
mill  I  In-  tinances  of  tlie  city  and  county  will  permit.  Such  a  .sy.stem  of 
houlevards  is  not  the  unattainahle.  It  is  an  improviMiient  which  must 
come  if  St.  Louis  is  to  keep  her  i)lace  among  the  progressive  cities  of 
America  and  hold  her  position  as  the  logical  gateway  to  the  great 
Southwest. 

INNER   AND  OUTER  PARK  COMMITTEE. 
John  D.  Davis.  Chairman. 
Robert  S.  Brook  ixgs.  George  E.  Kessler. 

Exes  Cl.^rke.  Albert  B.  L.\mbert. 

L.  D.  DoziER.  Robert   McCulloch. 

D.wiD  R.  Fr.\xcis,  S.\i:nder.s  Norvell, 

George  C.   Hitcikock,         Jui-it's  Pitzm.xx, 
J.  A.  HOOKE.  \Vm.  Trele.\se. 

Charles  H.  Huttig.  Calvin   M.  Woodward. 


70 


A    CITY    I'LAN     FOK    SAINT    I,()(IS. 


For  the  BknilFIT  and  E.njov.ment  oi'  the  Peupee, 
Entrance  to  Yellowstone   National  Park. 


MAP  OF 

CHICAGO 

SHOWING 

PROPOSED  \EX1STINC  PARKLANDS 

SCALE 


This  plan  contemplates  the  purchase  of  30,000  additional  acres  of  parkland  and 
more  than  fifty  miles  of  parkways.  The  3,000  acres  of  existing  parks  and  tliirty  miles 
of   boulevards  shown   in   Kreen. 


MAP  OP  THE 

METROPOLITAN  DISTRIC 
OF  PROX'IDENCE 

SHOWISC  PROPOSED  SYSTEMS  OF 


Map   sliowiiig  the  L-xiciisivc  plans  in  rr<>M<lcMce  lor  Parks  and  Public   Reservations 
A  State  Commission  has  been  created  to  develop  this  plan. 


Street  Improxements 


SUGGESTIONS    FOR    THE    IMPROVEMENT   OF  THE    RIVER 

FRONT,    RAILWAY    ENTRANCE,    TRIANGLES, 

AND    STREET    RAILWAY    LINES 

Tin;  sUiM'i  |il;iii  is  tlic  clciiic'iit  of  liisi  and  ;:i-catcsi  iinpDrfaiicc  in 
t  he  nialdnu  m-  icinalciii;;  of  a  cil  \ .  Tlic  streets  are  I  lie  arteries  of 
coiniiuinication  and  lie  at  the  foundation  of  a  city's  transporta- 
tion system.  It  is  lieie  that  a  laruc  pet  cent  of  the  niniiici]ial  activities 
aie  carried  on.  Hence,  any  consideration  t>(  the  proldenis  connected 
witli  street  ini]iro\(Miienfs  niusi  presiip]»osp  the  fnndaniental  demands 
of  traffic  and  communication.  This  means  that  tlie  character  of  the 
traffic,  the  densit,\'  of  jiojmlation,  tlie  ucneral  ns(^s  to  which  a  street  is 
to  he  put,  will  all  assist  in  determining  the  nature  of  the  improvement 
to  he  siignesteil.  Hut  all  snggcstious  must  he  considered  in  the  light 
of  the  princiitle  that  streets  must  have  the  minimum  amount  of  ohstrnc- 
lion  to  free  and  nntrammeled  communication. 

(Ml  the  other  hand  city  streets  are  nioi-e  than  merely  dean-d  spaces 
for  travel.     They  are  the  homes  of  most  of  our  iidiahilanls  for  twelve 

to  sixteen  hours  each  da\.  Tliev  are  the  features 
Streets  Determine  '*f  ^'"'  *''^^  which  are  liesi  known  to  visitors  and 
Attractiveness  travelers,   and    njion    which   are   hased    their    ini- 

of  City.  ])ression  of  the  desirahility  of  the  city  for  a  place 

of  residence.  The\  can  ser\c  the  pnipose  of  travel 
and  remain  ugly  and  nnadorne<l.  or  thev  can  he  made  to  promote  thi> 
heallli  and  comfort  of  the  ]!eo]iie  and  add  to  llie  dignitv  and  s]ilentlor 
of  the  entire  city. 

In    llie  study   of   liiose    fealUles   of   our   slr<'els   W'ilich    are   suscejililde 

of  im])rovemeuis  we  have  considered  them  from  the  two  ]ioinls  of 
view — utility  and  ;iltracti\cness — and  have  stiggcsted  only  those 
i-hauges  whiih  seem  jiossihle  of  accomplishment  within  the  ne.xt  decaile. 
We  have  included  snggcstituis  relating  to  the  liver-front.  the  ojiening 
of  main  thoi  ouglifaics,  the  removal  of  ohstructions.  the  proieciicui  of 
pa\cmenls.  and  the  general  improvement  in  the  aippearance  of  \\h' 
streets  hoth  in  residential  portions  ami  the  luisiness  districts. 


12  A   crrv   im.a.v    roi;  saixt  r.ons. 

RIVER   FRONT   IMPROVEMENT 

I-?o<;iiiMiiii;  ;il  llic  i-ivci-,  llic  ii;iluial  linlcwiiy  nf  llic  cily,  llic  lirsi 
iimcli-iK'cilcil  ini|ii  ii\riii('iil  which  strikes  tlic  avcraLic  \isitnr  in  Si. 
]A)uis  is  some  ti-catnicnt  of  rivcr-fi-diit.  wliicii  will  in  sonic  \\a\  relieve 
it  of  its  ])vesent  nnsij^litl.v  apjiearance.  A\'lH'n  river  Ira  tlic  decreased, 
on  aceonnl  of  rai)idl\"  lirowins;-  i-aili-oad  facilili<'s,  Imsiness  iiio\cd  n]) 
llie  iiijl  III  ilie  wcsi  and  aliandoned  ihe  ri\'er  rroiil  In  siialiliy  and 
dilapidateil  hnildiniis,  which  lia\'e  lieconie  unfit  foi-  (hvcllinn  or  business 
(|narlers.  The  city  tnnn/d  its  hack  ni"Hi  Ihe  river  slojie,  and  this  district 
from  I'^ads  I'ridjio  to  Po])lar  Street  has  l(ec(nne  pi  lul  icallx  eliniiuated 
from  the  liusiness  portion  of  the  city.  In  fact,  )iarts  of  ii  have  liecome 
to  such  an  extent  the  rendezvons  of  the  vicious  ami  depi-a\'ed  that 
resjiectalde  citizens  hesitate  to  [lass  thronj;h  these  (jmirters  on  their 
way  to  the  hoats  on  the  I'ixcr. 

The  proper  treatment  (d'  this  portion  of  the  city  would  not 
only   make   it   once  more  of   im]nirtance   in    the   Imsiness   life   of   tiie 

city.  Imt  would  liive  St.  I.onis  a  natural  entrance- 
Importance  "■'>  uni(|ne  amoiii;  American  municipalities.  The 
of  River  Front,      m'w  moNcnH'Ut  for  a  dee]i  waterway  to  the  (inlf  and 

the  eiiornions  im-rease  in  river  traffic  which  that  will 
in\(d\(',  the  recent  decision  of  the  xoters  of  St.  Louis  in  lavor  of  a  free 
mnnicipal  hridiic  ami  the  present  dilaiiidal<'d  cimdition  (d'  the  district, 
make  the  jiresent  an  o])portniie  moment  to  consider  an  imi)i-o\-enient 
of  this  portion  id'  the  cit\"s  topoi;raphy,  whicdi  will  not  only  liixc  it  a 
splendid  and  diunitied  liateway,  iiut  will,  at  the  same  time,  increase  its 
commercial  usefulness. 

A  nnmlier  of  factoi-s  must  he  ke])t  in  \iew  in  sniijicslinij,  an\  plan 
for  so  extensive  an  im])rovenH'nt.  l'''irst,  the  riverfront  must  he 
primarily  adajyted  to  the  needs  of  commerce,  holh  hy  rixcr  and  rail, 
for  hoth  the  sections  north  of  Eads  Uridiie  and  south  of  I'oi)lar  Street, 
e.xtendinii-  as  far  back  as  Third  Street,  are  destined  to  he  the  freiiiiit 
yards  and  warehouse  district  of  the  city  for  all  time  to  come.  Already 
the  railroads  have  extensive  terminal  facilities  in  these  disti-icts  and 
other  comin-ehensive  ])laus  for  freiiiht  houses  and  termiimls  are  under 
consideration.  The  only  avenue  of  communication  lietween  these  two 
districts  lies  along  the  river-front  hetween  the  wharf  and  Second  Street. 
Therefore,  whatever  suiifiestions  are  made  for  the  im]irovement  of  the 
Avater-front  they  must  provide  for  railroad  tracks  and  free  communica- 
tion alonii  the  river  nniryin. 


«F 


The  River  Front  as  It  Is 


m 


The  River  Front  as  it  Should  Be 


I»C!.JHneJ  In   \Villi..r  T,  Triicbtno.l 

Showing  a   Broad.  Open  Pla^^a  from   Eails   HTi'\t: 


THE  RI\'ER   FRONT  AS  IT  SHOULD   BK. 

r.^iostd   Bridge  at  Poplar  Street  on  a  Level  with  Third  Street.     Railway  Tracks  and  Passenger  Stain 

Warehouses  Fronting  along  Second  Street.       Merchants'  Exchange  Court  in  the  Center. 


I  umler  Ilic  Pla/a.      Easy  Apiinacli  Ir.im  tlu-  Li-v< 


r-) 


Cross  Section   ami   Street    Plan   of    Proposed   River   Front   Improvement 


r  ?  y 


r'r'' 


FREIGHT  YAffOS 


f»t3CnT  SRitOi 


i\Af£  nouses 


EL  EVATION 

TYPICAL    SECTION 

LOOHiNG    SOurn 


1 


Ml  s  s I s Si nni 


li  I  \  i:  It 


Slu.wini:  il"-  <  • 


(  KOSS  SF.CTION   AND   STREET  PLAN   OF  THF.   RIVF.R   FRONT. 

.  ,„ukt  ilu-  Proposed  lisplaiia.lc.     lii-lwfcn  Second  Slron  and  i1h-  I  •>.■.  .h.rr  .s  R...n.  io,  T«.n(y  Radn^.!  Tr...-t>. 


r^ 


STREKT   IMrUOVE.MENTS.  73 

Second,  tin-  stccji  liradcs  now  cxistinji'  alonj;  tlic  levee  to  Tliird 
Street  iMiilo'  a  diunitied  treatment  of  tlie  i-iver-frout  easy  aud  at  tlie 
same  time  advantajieons  to  loeal  tratfie  across  the  river.  One  of  the 
reasons  foi-  tlic  al)andniiiiicnt  of  tlie  i-i\'ev-front  was  the  serious  obstacle 
wliicli  tlicsc  sicc]i  iirad<'s  jilaccd  in  llie  way  of  team  traffic  to  and  from 
tile  wliaif.  iieuinninj;  at  tlic  ICads  IJridfic  and  extcndinj;-  to  \\'alruit 
Street.  Second  Street  is  on  ilic  average  29.4  feet  and  Third  Street  an 
averafie  of  4."{  feel  aliove  the  level  of  the  levee,  with  a  grade  of  more 
than  !(  ])ci-  cent.  Tlic  distance  between  the  levee  and  Second  Street, 
while  \ai\ini;  sli^hily,  averages  about  (i(M>  feet,  '{'lie  width  of  tiie 
wharf,  if  exiciidcd  to  the  liniifs  hxcd  i)y  the  rniied  States  Government 
Surveys,  will  a\'eiage  approximately  250  feet,  wliicli  means  ample  room 
for  landings  and  ilockage.  Although  the  height  of  Second  and  Third 
Streets  above  the  levee  vary  somewhat  from  the  Eads  Bridge  to  Wal- 
nut Siicct.  the  xariation  is  regular  and  wmild  not  interfere  seriously 
with  a  jiroper  treat nu-nt  of  the  water-front.  .Moreover,  the  geological 
formation  of  the  bliitf  from  the  levee  back  to  Second  Street  is  soft 
clay,  which  can  be  easily  excavated.  ISack  of  this  aic  solid  bluffs  of 
limestone. 

Tliiid,  llic  .Muiiicijial  Teiiiiiiial  < 'omiiiission  has  recommended  the 
erecti(Hi  of  a  four-track  i-ailroad  bridge  aci-oss  the  ri\'er  at  the  foi>t  of 
I'oplar  Sfi-eet,  which  seems  to  be  by  all  odds  the  most  feasible  location 
for  a  bridge  designed  to  serve  the  railroads  entering  Mill  Creek  ^■alley. 
The  water-fi-ont  from  this  point  to  the  Eads  Bridge,  a  distance  of  1,500 
feet,  is  and  w  ill  continue  to  be  the  natural  harbor  for  most  of  the  i-i\'er 
crafts. 

Having  in  mind  these  various  factors,  we  niYvv  tin-  following  sug- 
gestions as  a  possible   treatment   of  the   water-front,  which    will   add 

greatly  to  its  attractiveness  and  dignify,  and  at 
Esplanade  Between  'he  same  time  preserve  its  usefulness  to  traftic 
Two  Bridges.  and    commerce.      We    would     suggest     that    the 

|iioi)ciiy  lying  between  the  ICads  ISridge  and  tiie 
pro])o.sed  bridge  site  at  Poplar  Street,  extending  from  the  levee  back 
to  Second  Street,  could  be  condemned  and  ])urchased  by  the  city:  the 
bluffs  could  be  exca\ate(l  back  to  Second  Street  to  a  le\'el  with  the  le\ec. 
and  a  broad  esplanade,  similar  to  that  shown  in  the  aicompanying 
illustration,  could  lie  construcied  of  stone  and  cement  on  a  h'vel  with 
Third  Siicci  and  terminating  witii  the  Kads  liridge  on  the  north  and 
(he  proposed  iiiidge  on  the  south.  I'mleineatli  this  es|danade  railroad 
s 


74  A    CITY    I'l.AN    FOR    SAINT    LOUIS. 

tijicks  could  lie  laid  and  a  sulmrban  i-ailwav  station  for  trains  from  tlic 
nortlii'rn.  western  and  sontlicrn  sniini-lis.  and  also  smaller  freiiiiit 
lionses  fur  ]Mirely  local  fi-ei<ilit,  could  he  coii-^I  rncle(|,  as  lias  been  done 
in  riiilaiiel]>liia  under  llie  arches  of  the  ele\ale(l  railroad  ti-acks.  The 
area  helwcen  Second  and  Third  Streets,  helow  the  le\'el  of  the  es|danade 
and  helow  the  level  of  the  connecting'  streets,  conld  he  made  the  hase- 
niont  of  tlic  present  huildinjis  or  those  to  he  erected.  The  approach  to 
the  esplanade  from  the  river  for  hoth  jiedestrians  and  vehicles  eonld  be 
by  elevators  and  inclined  roadways,  as  are  indicated  in  the  acconipan\- 
inji'  draw  ini^s,  or  as  have  actually  been  constructed  in  Alij,iei-s.  iOlec- 
tric  power  for  railroad  service  w  ithin  the  cil\-  limits  will  at  no  distant 
day  be  reipiired.  This  would  eliminate  one  obstacle  to  the  use  (»f  the 
iirea  under  the  ])ro])osed  esjdanade  foi*  tracks,  ])assen<i('r  stations  and  a 
local  freiiilit  depot.  Above  the  stone  structure  could  be  arraniicd  a 
wide,  continuous,  0])en  jiromenade  adoi-ned  wiili  trees,  fountains  and 
statues  and  surrounded  in  time  iiy  stately  otiice  buildiuiis  or  ware- 
houses. An  arrauiiement  on  the  river-front  as  above  indicated,  whereby 
those  livinji'  in  the  suburbs  could  l)e  daily  lan<led  in  the  heart  of  the 
city,  would  s(dve  for  all  time  the  problem  of  sulniriian   tiallic. 

To  show  that  some  such  treatment  ol'  the  i-ivcr-fi-oiit.  as  has  lieen 
indicated,  is  not  onl_\  desirable  i)ut  feasible,  we  need  to  cite  only  a  few 

i>\'  the  nundier  of  cities  which  have  successfully 
River  Fronts  in  liamiled  this  problem  to  the  ixn^at  benefit  of  the  city. 
European  Cities.      Aliiiers,  a  cut  of  which  accompanies  this  report,  has 

not  only  ])i-o\ided  in  the  best  possiI)le  manm>r  for 
lier  commercial  interests,  but  by  tiiis  Hue  of  masonry  has  ijiveu  the  city 
a  majestic  and  imposing  gateway.  Budapest  on  the  Danube  ha.s  pre- 
served much  of  its  river-front  for  palatial  public  buildings,  frequent 
park  sjiaces  and  tree-lined  promenades,  and  at  the  same  time  utilized 
the  space  beneath  tlie  streets  and  iiack  of  the  (juay  for  storage  purposes. 
The  water-fronts  of  Hamburg,  Antwerp,  Stockholm,  Rouen  and  IJerlin 
have  been  treated  in  a  somewhat  similar  manner.  In  fact,  the  tendency 
in  all  European  cities  is  to  take  advantage  of  the  river-front  ojijtor- 
tunities  for  beautifying  purposes. 

Kiver-front  improvements  are  not  antagonistic  to  the  comniei-cial 
development  of  a  metrojiolis.  hi  the  case  of  this  city  it  would  lie  an 
actual  material  benetit  to  commerce.  St.  Louis  has  now  an  opportunity 
of  improving  a  naturally  lieautiful  water-front  without  interfering  in 
the  least  with  her  rapid  commercial  and  industrial  development,  and 


WATER  FRONT  AT  ALGIERS. 
SliiiwniK  a  Trcatmciii  which  is  Atlractive  as  well  as  ComniiTcially  Praclicabli- 


o 


Water  Front  at  Algiers 


X 


■I.    - 

r~     S. 


STKKMT  i.Mi'i;o\i;.Mi:.\TS.  /;> 

of  iuldiiii::'  tu  licr  at  Irnclivciicss  a  feat  iiic  iiiii(|uc  and  rare  aiiinnii  Aiiicr- 
icaii  citic-i. 

STREETS   IN    DOWNTOWN    SECTION 

-Alaii.v  sniiiicstioiis  liavc  Ix'cii  made  luDkin^ii  to  tlic  widi-iiiiii;  and  n^- 
<lii('(tinii  (»t'  (low  ii-lowii  streets  ill  ni-der  to  make  tliciii  more  conifnrtahh' 
and  couvcineiit.  We  cniild  wi-ili  that  the  earlv  settlers  liad  taken  nioro 
tlioiinlit  ol'  tlie  liitnre  L;reatness  (if  tliis  citx  and  jiHixided  f(ir  wide  main 
tlioroiiuli fares  cxi end iiiii  in  all  directions  from  a  common  center  in  the 
heart  of  tlie  city.  ]'>nt  they  did  not.  We  niijilit  jilan  the  })rojection 
of  snch  thoroniiiifares  tliroiiiiii  s(didly  hnilt  |iortions  of  the  citv  as  has 
been  done  ill  I'aiis.  Liindon,  Kio  .laneiro  and  New  Vurk,  Imt  the 
incon\-eiiiences  of  travel  are  not  yet  snch  as  to  demand  these  radical 
chaniics.  After  a  careful  consideration  of  all  the  sn'iiicstions.  we  have 
(h'eiiied  it  inadvisable  to  recommend  anv  chaniics  in  the  \\idtli  m-  direc- 
tion of  alreadx  estahlished  str<'ets  in  the  section  east  of  Twelfth  Street 
Itecanse  (d'  tlie  almost  ])) (iliiliit i\ c  cost  acc(nii](an\iiiL;  snch  alterations. 

.\t  present,  however,  there  is  oiilv  one  east  and  west  street  (Ches- 
nut  Street )  in  the  business  section  exteudiug  as  far  as  P.roadway  wliich 

is  free  from  stivet  car  tracks  and  whicli  affords  a 
Locust  Street  •'^•''''  ■""'  comfoi-talde  a])]iroach  for  ])leasnre  and  ligiit 
Improved.  velii(les.      In    order   to   have   another   main   artery  of 

ti-avel  for  M'hicles  to  the  west  we  recommend  that 
some  arrangement,  if  jiossihle,  he  made  with  tlie  street  railvvav  com- 
]>any  to  va<-ate  l.ocnst  Street  from  P.roadway  west  to  Thirleeiiih  in 
<'xcliani>('  for  some  other  street  or  ]irivileiL;e  and  that  Eocust  Street  he 
o]iened  as  a  lioulevar<l  exteiidiiiii'  west  tlirouinh  the  proposed  Lihrary 
Park  at  Thii-teenth  Street  to  Theresa  Avenue,  where,  with  a  slijiht 
deviation,  it  will  join  Lindell  iioiilevard.  The  recent  accjuirement  hv 
the  I'lnted  Kailways  ('onipany  of  the  sio(k  of  the  Snlnirhan  Railway 
("ompany  should  make  this  imiirovemeiit  wholly  jiracticahle.  ^^'e 
would  further  sujiiicst  that  the  trian,i;ular  hlock  of  i;round  at  the  inter- 
section of  Theresa,  Eindell  and  Olive  Street,  l»e  ]mrchased  and  con- 
A'erted  into  a  trian;:ular  park  similai-  to  Kendrick  (lardeii.  This  would 
furnish  a  pleasinu  apinoach  to  Eindell  i'.onlevard  for  both  vehic  les  and 
street  cars. 

l^octist  Street,  thus  freed  from  obstructions  and  well  paved,  slioidd 
he  limited  to  pleasure  and  li>iht  vehiiles.     All   heavy  driving,  except 


76  A    CITY    PLAN     Kcilt    SAINT    I,(tl"IS. 

W  ll('l-('  ll('C('SS;n-y  to  rcilcll  ;l  |il;uc  (pf  ilcli\<'l-\  willlin  ;l  Mock,  sliipiiiil  li.' 
l)r()liil)itc(l.  W'itli  tlii'sc  I'csiiict ions  I.(>ciisi  SIrcct  iiii^lil  sunn  licconii' 
tlic  I-'iftti  Avcnnu  of  St.  Louis.  Tlic  favoralilc  (•.\])('ri('ncc  of  New  ^'ol■k 
lUid  Cliicajio  in  rcstiiitiii^  n  few  (iown-towii  streets  in  this  ni;i::v- 
wonld  Jnstify  a  similar  ex]>eiinicnl  here.  ('hiea!>o,  for  exanipit ,  eslah- 
iisiieil  .Tackson  Street  as  a  l;onle\ar(l.  paved  it  witli  as])hall  and 
restrieied  it  exclusively  to  li.mlil  (lri\in.;;.  These  restrictions  lia\e 
worked  no  hardships  to  any  one.  ha\c  ininienseh'  increased  properl  v 
\'alues  alonii'  that  houlevard,  and  ha\c  i;i\cn  the  hicyi  jes,  imuuies, 
carriaiics  and  auloniohiles  an  entrance  into  the  heart  of  the  cit\  which 
other\\ise  couhl    not    have  lieen   secured. 


The  only  hroad,  expansive  street  in  the  hnsiness  ])ortioii  of  the  city 
is  Twelfth  Stieet  extendiiifi'  from  \\'asliini;ion  Avenue  on  the  norih  to 
.Afarket  Street  on  the  south.  Tliis  wide  thoroui;hfare 
Twelfth  Street  furnishes  a  striking  contrast  to  the  other  narrow- 
Widened,  .streets  niuiiiiiii'  in  liolli  directions  tlironiih  this  section. 
Alonii'  it  are  lpein;Li  erected  liandsome  huildiuiis,  wiiich 
ii'ive  Twelfth  Street  Plaza  a  diiiiiity  of  its  own.  In  time  it  will  he  in 
the  heart  of  the  retail  district  and  lined  on  hotli  sides  with  imposinji 
structures,  which  w  ill  make  it,  hy  far,  the  most  attractive  street  in  the 
heart  of  the  city.  Itefoi-e  these  imiirovements  are  made  and  while  the 
cost  will  not  he  ]>roliiliilive.  Twelfth  Street  from  .Market  to  Mill  Creek 
\'alle_\  should  he  widened  to  cori-es](oml  with  that  jxirtion  between 
-Maiket  and  \Vashiimtou  Avenue.  A  wide  \  iadiict  across  Mill  ("reek 
Valley  shoidd  displai-e  the  pre.seiil  liridiic  This  would  not  oidy  jiive 
a  wide  ihoi-oujihfare  throni;h  the  heart  of  the  hnsiness  district,  hut  it 
would  furnish  excellent  tire  protection  to  the  hankiuii  :ind  hnsiness 
center  of  the  city.  The  ex]ierieiice  of  San  Francisco  and  the  in- 
pstinnihle  service  which  a  wide  thoroujihfare  ( VanXe.ss  Avenue) 
rendered  in  checking  the  contla^ration  tlieie,  and  the  ahsence  of  any 
such  thoionjihfare  in  Baltimore,  which  jiroved  so  disastrous  in  the 
tire  of  a  few  years  aiiO,  shouhl  teach  this  citv  the  necessity  of  insni-inn 
l»roper  protection  to  tlie  vast  business  interests  which  will  always 
jii-avitate  to  this  district.  Twelfth  Street,  widened  as  recommendeil, 
should  be  freed  from  street  car  tracks  and  ornamented  with  trees, 
fountains  and  statuary.  If  projierly  jilanned,  it  will  in  time  be  lined 
with  monuments  and  will  become  the  artistic  center  of  St.  Louis. 


"-"      't 

—  -7. 
'■''■  V. 


stki:i:t  i.mi'Uovk.mk.nts.  11 

We  liavc  s[i()kcii  (it  till'  iiuproVL-meut  of  tlic  uatiiral  j^atcway  of  tlie 
<ity.  tlic  rivci-trout.  Tlic  city  iias  also  a  land  apin-oacli.  oi-  i-aihvay 
ciitraiH-c,  wliiili  slioiild  lie  iiicliidcd  in  aii.v  loiiiju-c- 
Union  Station  lifiisivc  sciiciiic.  \n  roim  of  inipiovciiicm  counis  moi-c 
Entrance.  ihaii  a  pleasing  a|)[»i()atli  ioiIiccIin.     'riic  iiiipoilaiu-c 

nl  I  he  land  i-utrauec  to  a  city  lan  searcc'ly  lj(_'  t/xaj^- 
,nciati'd.  II  ii  is  ailiaillvc,  visitors  iiavc  a  i)leasiug  iuipi-cssiou  of  tin; 
city's  lite;  it  ii  is  nnaiiiactivc,  tiavdcis  aic  iimsi  hkcly  to  liuiry 
tliKHiiili  without  any  dcsii-c  to  stop  oil'.  We  lunc  in  llic  L'nion  Station 
a  inassi\('  and  imposing  sti-tictni-c  of  w  liicii  the  city  can  justly  he  proud, 
hut  liic  ajipioacli  to  the  station  is  a  constant  ichnkc  to  the  a^stlletic 
ideals  ol  this  city.  Wliatcvci-  favoiahh-  iniitrcssious  of  the  Tniou 
Station  the  liaveler  nniy  have,  they  are  soon  (lisjielled  when  he  views 
the  architectural  imliness  all  ahont  it.  Furthermore,  if  he  takes  a 
.Maikel  Street  car  oi-  an  aulonioliile  down  ("liestnut  Street  the  same 
<lilai>idatiMl  conditions  gi-eet  him  on  every  side.  From  the  T'liion 
Station  lo  Twelfth  Street,  hetweeii  .Market  and  Cjieslnul.  liii-re  is 
scarcely  a  res]»ectal)le  hnilding  lo  he  found. 

in  oiil<'r  to  relie\e  this  uiisigjii  liiiess  and  leave  u|)on  the  mind 
<)f  the  visitor — he  he  mefcliant.  manufacturer,  liome-seeker.  or  trans- 
continental traveler — the  most  favorahle  first 
Boulevard  impressions,    which    are    irsualiv     lasting,    ami    to 

to  Union  Station.  guarantee  to  tlie  cit\  for  all  lime  a  sjiacious  and 
splendid  galewa.N',  we  rec(uniuend  the  puridiase  of 
I  he  half  I  dock  <d'  ground  along  the  south  side  of  ( "li<>si  ntil  Street  extend- 
ing from  llie  .Municipal  Uuildings  (iroit]i  to  ICighleenih  Street,  liie 
widening  of  Chestnut  Street  to  !.">()  feet  foi-  ihis  distance,  and  the 
impio\ement  of  this  wide  thoroughfare  \t\  a  treatment  similar  to  the 
famous  (hamps  Flysees  of  Paris — a  houh'varil  through  the  center  for 
light  \ehi(des  ami  a  roadwav  on  either  sid<'  for  service  traftic.  with  two 
rows  of  tre(ss  sei)aratiug  the  roadwavs  fi-oni  the  Ijonlevard. 

For  the  im]irovement  of  the  immediate  surroundings  of  the  Inion 
Station,  we  recommend  the  jinrchase  by  the  city  (d'  tlw  two  blocks  lying 
between  lOighteeuth  and  'rwentieili  Streets.  .Market  and  <'h<'sinui 
Streets,  and  the  transfoi-niation  of  this  are;i  into  a  ]>ark. 

These  improvemeids  would  cost  a  considerable  sum  (d'  monev,  but 
they  wiiuld  be  of  inestimable  commercial  value  to  the  business  interests 
(d'  the  city  and  would  em|iliasiy,e  in  the  most  etTective  manner  the  true 
im])ortance  of  St.  I.ouis  as  the  commercial  gateway  to  the  great  South- 
Avest. 


78  A    <'ITY    I'l.AX     roil    SAINT    I.Ol  IS. 

It  would  he  (l('siral)lo  if  in  time  llic  proposed  broad  llinidiii^linire 
extriidiiiL;  from  Twelftli  Street  to  tlic  I'liioii  Sfalioii  mi^^lit  lie  couiimicd 
west  to  (iraiid  .Vveutie.  hut  wi-  would  recoanueml  only  tliat  <"licslinit 
Street  to  Beaumont  Avenue  and  Pine  Street  from  IJeaumont  Avenue  he 
established  as  a  boiilexard  connectinii  the  rnion  Staliiui  I'aik  and 
the  broad  hiiihway  from  the  niunicii)al  i^roup  of  huildini:s  w  itli  j.iudell. 
IMue  and  Forest  I'ark  I!o\ile\ards. 

NORTH    AND    SOUTH    BOULEVARD 

In  addition  to  the  two  main  lliorouiihfares.  Locust  Street  and  ("iiest- 
nuf  Street,  with  the  houle\ai'd  ti-eatnieul  lietween  Twelfth  and 
I'Miihteenth  Streets,  which  will  furnish  aniple  driveways 
A  Restricted  '""'  li.-'d  Ncllicles  hetwcen  lile  husinev;-;  portions  (d'  the 
Hlg'hway.  'i'.v  and  the  west  end.  there  should  he  a  hiiihwav    with 

the  same  restrictions  rnnniiiii  noi-th  and  south  connect- 
ini;'  these  t  wo  widely  separated  ]>orrions  of  the  cit \  and  at  the  same  t ime 
jiivini;'  Itoth  sections  an  easy  a])](roach  to  tin-  I'niou  Station.  A  wide 
tliorouiihfare  thronuh  the  heart  of  the  jircsent  retail  disti-ict  is  out  of 
the  Cjuestion.  but  a  driveway  o\'er  existing  streets,  i*estricted  to  pleasure 
and  liiilit  veiiicles,  i.s  feasible  and  desiialde.  A  i;lance  at  the  city  map 
east  (d' .lell'ei-son  .\\'euue  will  show  a  iiuiiilier  of  small  ]iar]vs.  iucludin<i' 
the  ])ro|iosed  Union  Station  Tark.  arrani;i'd  in  a  semi-circle  about  the 
center  of  the  citw  On  the  noi-th  is  IJissell's  i'oint  Reservoir,  which  has 
been  i  ecomuiende(i  for  a  ri\"er-front  jiark  and  piayji'ronnd  liy  the  ('ivic 
Centers  CommiTtee.  From  this  ])oint  follow  inii  around  the  semi-circle 
and  terminating  with  the  river-front  drive  at  .Miami  Street  and  the 
ilarine  Hospital  I'aik,  proposed  liy  the  Park  Committee,  are  Ilyde 
Park,  St.  Louis  IMace,  T'nion  Station  Park  (projtosed),  Lafayette  Park 
and  I'.eiiion  Pai]<.  A  resti-icted  dri\('wa.\'  connectiuii  these  attractive 
leci'cation  areas  and  at  the  same  time  furnishin!;i  to  the  north  and  south 
si(h'S  the  much-needed  a])]>roach  to  the  Union  Station  and  indirectly 
to  the  heart  (d'  the  retail  distriit,  should  not  he  7ie,ulected. 

We  recommend,  therefore,  iJiat  the  followinii'  streets  he  madi-  boule- 
vards, that  they  lie  restricted,  where  ](ossihle.  ex(  Insivelx  to  jdeasnrc 
and  lijiht  vehicdes,  paved  with  suitable  material  and  adiu-ned  with  tri'es 
and  shrubbery.  IJejiinninfi-  at  the  north  side  of  ItisselTs  point  and  the 
river,  following  west  alonjj;-  <irand  Avenue  to  I'dair  .\ venue,  thence 
south  alonji'  Plair  Avenue  to  Hyde  Park,  west  around  H.\de  Park  and 
aloni;  Farrar  Street,  south  on  I'lorissant  Avenue  to  St.  Louis  Place, 


STItEKT    IMI'ItnvKMKXTS.  79 

tlii-ougli  or  along-  dtlici-  side  of  St.  Louis  I'l;icc  to  Bcntoii  Sti"eot,  east 
on  Ilcnton  Street  to  Twcntictli  Strc<'t.  soiirli  alony-  Twciitictli  Street 
to  tile  I'uion  Station  to  a  junction  with  tlie  ])roi)ose(i  wide  tliorou.giifare 
leadinji;  east  directly  to  tlie  public  liuildin<is  <>roup  at  Twelfth  Street; 
across  31111  Creek  Valley  over  the  Twenty-first  Street  bridge  to 
riiouteau  Avenue,  east  on  riioutcau  Avenue  to  Mississii)]ii  Avenue, 
south  on  ^lississipjii  Avenue  to  Park  Avenue,  i)ast  Itenton  Park  to 
Miami  Street,  east  on  .Miami  Street  to  the  projiosed  Jlarine  Park  and 
Kiver  Side  Dvivc  at   .Marine  Avenue. 

•Telferson  Avenue  ami  certain  other  jiortions  of  this  propo.sed  drive- 
way, especially  the  Twenty-tirst  Street  crossing  of  ;Mill  Creek  Valley. 

<"houteau  Avenue,  ^li.ssis.sippi  Avenue,  .-uid  a  few 
Value  of  Improved  sections  near  some  of  the  parks,  can  imr  be  re- 
Highway,  stricted    to   light    tratltic,    Vint    .Tetfersnn    .\venue, 

already  a  broad  and  attractive  thoroughfare,  can 
be  greatly  improved,  together  with  the  remainder  of  the  proposed  north 
and  south  drive.  This  can  be  accomplished  by  the  ]ilantiiig  of  trees 
and  shrubbery  and  by  parking  as  far  as  jmssible  the  street  car  tracks. 
The  streets  included  in  this  boulevard  need  not  be  widened  except  at 
a  few  intei-seclions  with  other  streets  where  there  is  a  jog  in  the  high- 
\\ay.  They  can  be  declared  boulevards  viuder  the  provisions  of  the 
present  charter,  but  more  easily  under  the  lioiilevard  legislative  act  as 
suggested  by  the  Legislative  Committee  in  its  report.  These  streets 
should  be  well  paved  at  the  expense  of  the  ])roperty  owners  as  other 
streets  are  paved  and  adorned   with  trees  by  the  cit_\'  forestcn-  at  the 

e\]ieuse  of  the  city. 

An  im])rovement  of  this  kind  furnishing  an  easy  and  nl  tractive 
ajiiu-oach  to  the  T'nion  Station  from  the  north  and  south  sides  and 
uniting  the.se  two  .sections  of  the  city,  would  not  interfere  with  heavy 
traffic,  f(u-  Thirteenth  Street  is  alreadv  the  main  .service  .street  running 
parallel  wiili  the  river.  Furthermore,  the  ri'strictions  would  greatly 
enhance  the  value  of  contiguous  jirojierty.  This  has  uniforudy  been 
the  experience  of  cities  which  have  o]iened  ihes{>  ri'siricted  highways. 

IMPROVEMENT   OF   TRIANGLES 

Scattered  over  llie  city  ai-e  a  large  ninnber  (d'  triangular  plots  of 
ground  at  street  inter.sections  which  have  been  jiermitted  to  grow  uj) 
in  weeds  or  to  be  u.sed  for  huge  and  unsightly  iiillbojirds.     These  snmll 


80  A     (ITV     I'l.AN     I'OI!     SAINT     I.OIIS. 

Jjrass  jiluts  cjui  (';isil\-  Itc  (IcM^ldpcd  inln  lic;iiil\-  spcits  liy  flic  u^c  of 
flowers,  sliruhhci y  and  frees.  A  line  exiuniile  nf  (lie  ]i()ssil(llities  con- 
(ained  in  tliese  fi-ijuiiiles  is  shown  in  Kenritk  (lardeii  S(|nare  af 
(lie  inlcr-icclion  of  Lindell  I?onlevard.  .Mcriiei-snii  and  N'andcvenleT- 
Avennes.  The  Sfreef  1  )e](arlinenl  has  al  the  present  lime  cimdenina- 
fioii  ]ii'afei'(lin<is  nnd<'r  ua\'  for  ihe  piinhase  hy  ilie  citv  of  liiree  addi- 
tional frianiiles. 

NN'ashiniifon  <  "ifv  has  taken  advantaiic  of  more  llian  two  hnndred  of 
lliese   small    trianiinlar   spaces,   and    lhi'\    add    mmli    lo    Ihe   iicneral 
atlracfiveness  of  llie  Xal  ional  ('apitai.    St.  I.onis  has 
Triangles  Made      tiiirl\  similar  sjioiv.  mid  we  recomnieiid  thaf  as  man\' 
Artistic.  "f  Iheni  as  can  l)e  secured  by  private  donatiim  or  at  a 

reasonalile  cost  to  the  citv  ht*  trealetl  in  a  nnmner 
"iimijar  to  ihe  Kenrick  (iardeii.  In  iiiaiiN'  cases  Ihev  will  furnish 
fitiini:'  sites  for  staiiies  and  ailisiic  fountains. 

OTHER   STREET   IMPROVEMENTS 

.Manx  other  radical  sireet  im]irovenients  mi;i;lil  lie  siiiii;c-ited  \\lii(  h 
would  not  onl\  add  to  the  general  attractiveness  of  all  jiarts  of  die 
city,  hut  would  jureatly  facilitate  travel  hetweell  the  dilferelll  sections, 
now  more  or  less  isolated.  The  ditticnlty  of  coniniunication  between 
these  sections,  due  to  the  rectanjiiilar  jilan  of  streets,  could  have  been 
obxiated  if  \\i<le  diajional  streets  had  been  jirovided  for  in  tiie  early 
plats  of  the  cit\'.  Three  wide  thoroiiiihfares — one  to  the  northwest, 
one  to  the  west,  ami  one  to  the  southwest — radiatini;  fan-shaped  fi-om  a 
<-onimon  center  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  would  not  only  have  solved 
uiany  dittiiailt  transportation  jiroblems  lint  would  liaxc  united  sociall.v 
the  different  portions  of  the  city  and  fostered  a  uniform  d<'velo])inent 
which  is  ini]iossib|e  with  oiii-  |iresent  street  arraniicment.  N'uuH'rous 
sniijicstions  have  been  made  for  the  improvement  of  (he  diagonal  hisih- 
Avays — Gravois  Koad,  Old  ilanchester  Koad  and  Natural  l!rid<;c  Koad. 
These  streets  must  always  remain  o]ieii  to  heavy  trattic  and  rapid 
transit,  and  any  effort  to  im])ro\e  and  adorn  them  is  wladly  imprac- 
ticable. In  fact,  any  attem]>t  to  alter  the  i;cneral  street  jilan  as  it 
exists  today  is  out  of  the  (juestion,  and  imr  further  recommendations 
will  be  contiuod  to  street  embellishmeut.s  ami  furuLshiuji'  for  the  resi- 
lient ial  districts. 


z 

•7. 

—  ji 

—  io 
X     - 


—    a 


z 


z 


STHKKT   IMl'ltUVKMKNTS.  81 

In  tlic  conticstcd  Imsincss  disti-ict  of  a  oitv  wide  roadways  are  iieees- 
sary  for  heavy  trattic,  l»ut  in  re.sidcntial  districts  tliis  is  not  at  all 

necessary.  In  this  city  a  larue  amount  of  money 
Width  of  Streets.       1'='^  '""''"  wasted  in  paving  broad  streets  their  fall 

widtli  where  iijiht  trattic  prevails.  Not  only  lias 
the  first  cost  Iteen  unnecessarily  hi,i;h,  hut  the  annual  cost  of  deaninfi, 
sprinkling  and  repairs  has  been  proportionately  higii.  It  has  been 
estimated  that  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis  at  least  ?2,()00.000  have  been 
u.selessly  expended  in  paving  i-esich-nce  streets  witii  an  extra  breadth  of 
hard,  glaring  pavement,  which  is  not  only  useless  but  ugly.  For 
exanii)le,  Mcl'herson  Avenue  is  paved  fifty  feet  wide  its  full  length 
frniii  Nandeventer  to  Kingshiglnvay,  while  a  roadway  of  little  more 
than  lialf  tliat  width  would  be  ani])le  f<u-  all  tlie  traffic  that  ])asses  over 
it.  AYheu  this  street  is  compared  to  A\'estmiuster  Tlace  adjoining  it 
on  the  north,  a  street  of  the  same  width,  but  with  a  thirty-foot  roadway, 
the  good  taste  in  street  effects  is  readily  seen.  Broad  streets  are  always 
desirable,  but  broad  jiavements  are  by  no  means  necessary  or  desirable 
in  residential  districts.  A  width  of  twenty-four  to  twenty-six  feet 
furni.shes  ample  room  for  vehicles  to  jjass  or  turn.  The  remainder  of 
the  street  should  be  given  over  to  grass  plots,  shrubbery  and  tree.s. 

\\'q  would  recommend,  tiierefore,  for  the  residence  portions  of  the 
city  a  pavement  not  to  exceed  twenty-six  feet  in  width,  which  will  then 
leave  ampb'  room  for  parking  space  on  either  side,  as  shown  in  the 
accompanying  illustrations. 

In  this  connection  we  desire  to  emphasize  the  vital  relations  of  proper 
tree  planting  to  any  system  of  street  im])rovements.     No  city  stri'et  is 
complete  without  a  row  of  well -developed  aud  prop- 
Tree  Plantinff  on     ''I'^y  cared-for  trees  on  both  sides  of  the  roadway. 
Streets.  Tiiis  city  has  recently  established  the  office  of  City 

Forester. ''whose  duties  it  will  be  to  suiierintend.reg- 


rtiBi?PfBj,pwnrTniii 


TVPICAL  STREET   CROSS-SECTiON 
RESIDENTIAL  DISTRICT 


N'arrow  Roadway  and  Wide  Parkino  for  Residential  Streets. 


82  A    riTY    l'I,A.\     FOK    SAINT    1.(H1S. 

iiliilc  :in(l  ('iHomanc  the  i»lantiuji',  cult  uii-  and  prcscrvalimi  nf  sliadc  and 
(ti  iianicntal  rices  and  slirnhlicry  in  tlic  si  n-cls  and  liii;li\vays  of  tlic  city." 
Tlic  (irdinancc  jn-Dvidcs  tlial  tlic  ])rn|)('rty  owners  on  any  three  or  more 
conti^noiis  hlocks  l)\'  a  majority  vote  shall  deieiinine  the  \ariety  of 
I  rees  to  he  planted  on  that  slr<'el.  The  Ilea  lit  \  of  a  tree  a\<Mllle  de|  lends 
much  ni;oii  tin  jilantin^Li of  a  uniform  species  the  full  lenjilh,  or  a(  least 
for  several  hlocks  of  the  a\('nne.  Trees  of  diffei-ent  sha])es  and  sizes 
iii\(  to  a  street  a  raiiii'cd,  irrei;iilar  and  unsi^liil\-  appearance.  <  hie 
kind  of  tree  should  he  adopted  for  the  full  leiiiit  li  of  a  street.  This  liives 
nniformity  without  riiiidity  and  adds  much  to  the  heaiity  and  comfort 
ol  the  streets  and  liomes,  and  iireatly  enhances  the  \aliie  of  ahuttiiiii 
piopeity. 

(  )lle  of  t  he  \\  (irst  elielllies  to  I  he  st  reet   tree  and  also  (o  any  concerted 
effort   to  ini]irove  the  a]i]»earance  of  the  streets  is  the  o\crliead   wires 
witli  tile  acconi]iaiiyin,i;  forest  of  unsiiihtly  poles  and 
Unsig'htly  Wires      cross-jirnis.     A  casual  lilaiice  at   many  of  our  street 
and  Poles.  corners    where  a    network   of   wires   intersect    each 

other  will  show  how  destrucli\('  lliey  are  to  a  wcll- 
delined  plan  of  street  adornment.  .\t  the  present  t inie  the  underiiround 
district  of  St.  I.oiiis  extends  from  the  ri\-er  to  Tweii1y-s<'coiid  Street, 
and  from  I'oidar  to  <  "arr  Streets.  In  this  area  all  wires  except  trolley 
wires  are  required  hy  ordinance  to  he  placed  in  undi'i-jironnd  ducts. 
I'.y  .lanuary  1,  IIXIT,  this  area  will  supposedly  he  free  from  these  nnnec- 
essaiy  ohstructions.  The  time  has  come  for  the  extension  of  the  uiider- 
.lii-ouiid  district.  The  ductin.y  of  wires  in  crowded  portions  of  our 
cities,  or  where  there  are  at  least  one  hundred  wires  in  a  cahle,  has 
]U'()ven  to  he  actually  cliea])er  than  the  o\-erliead  p(de  system.  The 
initial  cost  is  <;reater,  hut  the  cost  of  inainteiiance  is  much  less.  It 
would  seem,  therefore,  that  no  undue  hurdeiis  wouhl  he  ]daced  upon  the 
piihlic  ser\ice  corporations  if  the  underiiround  district  were  extended 
to  the  pi-eseiit  fire  limits,  which  is  hounded  ai)]>roxiiiiately  hy  Xaliiral 
Uridine  Itoad  and  lOaston  A\('iiiie  on  the  north,  the  city  limits  on  the 
west,  and  l>ou.nlihoroui;li  A\'enii<'  on  the  south.  I'^ir  this  district  we 
recoinineiid  that  the  city,  hy  ordinance,  comiiel  all  wires,  except  trolley 
wires,  to  he  jilaced  either  in  conduits  or  to  he  striinii  on  ]K)les  in  the 
alleys,  and  thus  relieve  the  streets  of  their  iinsiiihtly  appearance  and 
jirotect  the  trees  from  injury. 

At  the  present  time  in  tliis  city  there  are  ten  separate  and  distinct 
companies  using  underground  conduits  eitlier  for  wires  or  ])ipes.     This 


■r.    -- 


z 


^ 


STitKKT  i.\u-itu\i:.MK.\'rs. 


83 


riiiscs  the  question  whctlicr  cacli  of  these  coiiiiianies  slioiihl  be  pennitted 
to  establish  its  own  oonduit  system  and  tear  up  tiic  streets  at  will,  or 
whether  tliere  slioubl  be  construeted  niic  larjic  ((induit  sA-steui  of 
sufficient  capaeit.v  to  niccl  Ihc  demands  of  tlic  tily  for  years  to  (oine. 
fdivionsly  the  latter  would  assist  in  i)reserviuji  tiie  sti-eets  fi-oiii  beiuji' 
constantly  torn  u])  for  additions  and  re]iairs. 


TYPICAL      CROSS  -  5ECTI  ON 

f  business^dTstrict 

I 


I'liR  Xarrcjw  Strekts.   Likfc  Olivf.  and  Locust. 


Tlie  Committee,  therefore,  recommends  that  either  the  city  construct 
a  conduit  system  as  rapidly  as  funds  and  conditions  will  permit,  or  that 

a  francliise  for  such  a  luirjiose  be  ;iiranted  to  a  jjrivate  coiii- 
A  Conduit  pany  under  projier  and  riyid  reiiulations  by  tiie  city  both 
System.  as  to  construction  and  chargers.     In  a  few  American  cities, 

notably  P.altimore  and  Rochester,  the  municipality  has 
constructed  (lie  conduit  system.  In  a  number  of  olhei-s  commissions 
have  been  appointed  to  invest iiiate  the  ]u-oblem  of  i»ro])erly  disposinji' 
of  wires  and  pipes  in  order  to  jtreserve  the  street  pavinji'  and  avoid  the 
constant  disturbance  to  traflSc.  These  re])orts  have  uniforndy  contained 
recommendations  (or  a  complete  conduit  system  for  all  ser\ice  mains. 
It  will,  of  course,  be  impossible  to  remove  all  jioies  from  the  streets. 
The  underground  trolley,  jud;L;ini;  from  the  recommendations  of  numer- 
ous eufiineers  and  tlie  lJo_\al  ('ommission  of  Great  Itritain,  has  not 
proven  sufficiently  satisfactory  to  warrant  its  m-neral  adoi)tion.  Ileuce, 
trolley  poles  will  continue  to  be  used — but  there  is  no  reason  why  these 
poles  should  not  serve  for  trolley  wires,  street  signs,  street   light  iuji. 


84 


A    <TrV     I'l.A.N     Kdi;    SAINT    I.OllS. 


fii'c  aliii'iH  and  mail  iMtxcs.  I-'or  years  iliis  lias  hccii  llic  custiMii  in 
Kunpjican  cities.  ]'.nt  feed  wires  in  all  cases  slioiild  lie  placed  in  dncts 
lieneatli  the  surface  as  rapidly  as  railway  lines  arc  reconstructed. 

<"are  should  he  taken  that   the  necessary  overhead  construction  he 
made   as   attractive   as    possihie.     (Mnameiital    iron    poles   of   artistic 

desinns  and  surmniinled  hy  elect  i-ic  liLihls  siionld 
Necessary  Overhead  tal<e  tjie  ]>lace  (d'  the  present  uuiiaiidy  sti"ii.!iht 
Construction  iion   shafts   in    the  hnsiness  streets.     The  jiriii- 

Made  Attractive.  ci])le   which   should   coidrol    in   re,uar<l   to  these 

necessary  ohstructions  aloni;  the  streets  is  as 
few  ]ioles.  wires  and  hoxes  as  jtossihle,  and  these  made  as  altractixc  as 
is  consistent  with  utilitw 


ir 


■•^•^iiji^ 


!A?Tj,-.^-^/a. 


V-K' ^ *0'        -.- —■■* /g' * 

A    Si  rj.i.M  i:ii   Tre.\tme.\t    iou    the    Sci!1'ui;an'     Kh.iit-hf-W av. 

.Much  can  he  done  without  ^reat  additional  <'.\](ense  li\  the  slieet 
railway   conijianies   to    imi)i-o\('   the   appi-arance   of   the   streets,      i'^or 

e.xaniple,  alonu  I'nion  .\\cnue  and  helmar  Itoide- 
Improvement  of  vanl,  west  of  I'nion,  the  street  car  tracks  are  im- 
Street  Railway  liedded  in  i>ravel.     The  ccuniiaines  should  he  induced 

Lines.  to  conceal  the  tracks  with  an  attractive  coverini;  (d' 

sod,  as  is  liein;i  done  in  i;(Kt(Ui,  ("le\-eland  and 
\\';ishini;ton.  The  sod  not  onl\  takes  away  much  (d'  the  unsiL^htliness 
iiul  it  also  deadens  the  noise.  The  Suhurhan  riiiht-ofwav.  which  has 
lon^Li  heell  an  eyesiue  to  the  people  who  ale  com]:elled  to  tra\'el  o\('l'  it, 
should  hy  all  means  he  ini])roved.  The  slo])inji  hanks  and  the  width  of 
the  riiiht-(d-way  make  it  susceptihle  of  iireat  improvenu'Ut.  We  would 
recommend  for  its  treatment  that  the  terraces  he  sodded  and  jdanted 
with  shruhhery,  and  that  two  rows  (d'  ti-ees  intersjiersed  with  shiuhhery 
he  jdanted  on  either  side  (d'  the  track  in  order  to  hide  tin-  unsiiihtly  hac  k 
vards  and  fences  which  extend  the  full  lenjith  (d"  the  ri;nht-of-way.     An 


STUEKT  i.mim:()vi:.mi:nts.  85 

improvement  of  this  nature  would  greatly  increase  tiie  attraitiveness 
of  tlie  Suhurl)an  Kail  way  as  a  means  of  transportation. 

At  numerous  places  in  the  cily  lliei-e  are  street  car  lines  exlcinlini!; 
over  streets  for  a  short  distance  which  cause  jjreat  incon\cnience  to 
general  ti-attic  and  wliicli  could  he  easily  a\oidcd  if 
Re-Routing"  of  ""'  street  railwav  coni])any  could  he  indnce(l  to  con- 
Car  Lines.  sidersli^iht  chanucs  and  rerontin;L;.      I'or  example,  the 

.McPherson  car  on  the  Olive  line  lioini:  west  tui-ns  on 
\\'alton  to  .Mcl'herson.  then  aiiain  on  Kin,nshii;liway  to  .Mcl'iierson, 
then  on  I'nion  to  1  »e(  iiverville  Avenues.  The  cars  on  this  line  could 
he  routed  either  l)y  Taylor  or  Euclid  Avenue  and  the  Delniar  line  to 
Union  Ax'enue,  thence  south  to  I)e(  iixcrville  .Vveiiue,  nimli  to  the 
comfort  of  residents  in  the  vicinity  (d'  Kiuii.sliinhway  and  Forest  Park 
ami  \\ithou(  any  serious  iucimvenience  to  travel.  If  the  .McIMmm-sou 
line  were  aholished  entii'ely  the  residents  in  the  section  honndeil  hy 
Euclid  and  liiion  Avenues.  I'orest  I'ark  and  Helmar  IJoulevards  would 
he  only  three  hlocks  from  the  car  line  in  any  direction.  Tiu-re  are 
scores  of  areas  in  the  city  wlu-re  thi'  distance  is  at  least  four  hhx  l<s  and 
no  inconvenience  is  felt.  Furthermore,  if  ^IcPherson  car  line  could 
he  renioN'ed  fi-oiii  Kiusishighwav  a  very  serious  hiemish  could  he  rcnio\cd 
from  what  is  lo  h(^  a  iimii'niticent  lpoule\ard.  Another  e.\am]de  is  St. 
Louis  Place,  an  attractive  ])arkwav  whose  heauty  is  nnirred  hy  heinji 
cut  into  three  sections  hy  car  lines,  t  wo  of  w  hich  could  easil\-  he  avoided 
it  the  cars  wci-e  i-e-routed.  No  additional  trackage  and  no  additiomil 
expense  would  devolve  upon  the  street  railway  comjiany.  It  is  simjily 
a  question  of  the  com])any's  willingness  to  assist  in  makini:  the  city 
most  comfortahle  and  convenient  to  the  peo])le  whom  it  is  supposed  to 
serve. 

There  are  also  certain  streets  over  which  the  railway  company  should 
he  re(|uired  to  extend  its  lines  for  the  convenience  of  the  tfaveliniL; 
]inhlic.  For  exam])le,  at  the  ])resent  time  it  is  imjiossihle  to  transfer 
from  a  P>i-oad\\ay  car  ti>  a  west-hound  car  anywhere  hetwcen  the  city 
limits  and  O'l'^illon  Street  i>\\  the  north,  and  oidy  one  ])oint  on  tlie 
south,  at  .letfer.son  Avenue.  (Irand  Avenue  line  at  each  end  should  he 
extended  to  a  junction  with  Ilroadway  .so  thai  citizens  in  either  jtortiou 
of  the  city  could  transfci-  directly  to  the  west  end  and  reach  that  poi-tion 
of  the  city  on  one  fare. 

In  order  lo  avoid  the  slee]>  iirade  on  the  North  (Jraml  Avenue  exten- 
sion, the  tra(  ks  could  he  laid  from  the  old  water  tower  alonii  Twcntietli 


86  A    (ITV    IT.AX    FOIt    SAINT    LOIIS. 

Street  to  I'lairie  Avenue  ;iiiil  aloni;-  I'raiiie  Avenue 
Street  Railway  )..  Xortli  1 '.road way.  Tliis  i-oute  would  juvseiit  no 
Commission  ^i-ave  eii.i;iiieei-iii<i-  ditliculties.     As  a  solution  to  ii  host 

auggestea.  ^^^  niiuor  street  problems  of  this  nature  we  would 

reconinieud  a  careful  investipition  liy  a  competent 
commission  of  tjie  present  routini;  of  car  lines  wiili  a  \  iew  to  elinii- 
natinji  unnecessary  trackaiic  and  extendinj;'  the  lines  wliere  necessary 
to  conserve  the  comfort  ami  convenience  of  the  people. 

Under  the  present  laws  the  city  has  practically  no  control  over  the 
platting  of  new  districts  within  the  city,  and  absolutely  none  over  Iari;c 

suburban  areas  whieli  will  soon  lie  iiududed  williiii 
Platting'  of  New  ^'"'  '''-^  limits.  There  should  be  at  an  early  date  a 
Streets.  revisicm  of  the  ordinances  and  statutes  in  order  to 

give  the  Street  Department  and  the  I>oard  of  Public 
Improvements  power  to  control  the  opening  of  all  new  additions  and 
compel  conformity  to  the  general  plan  of  streets  in  their  direction, 
width  and  names.  While  it  is  neither  necessary  nor  desirable  that 
streets  and  avenues  be  laid  out  in  straight  lines  for  long  distances,  yet 
it  is  essential  that  they  be  so  constructed  as  to  be  most  convenient  and 
attractive.  It  is  particularly  desirable  and  necessary  that  steps  be 
taken  to  control  the  platting  of  suburban  areas  in  order  to  prevent 
the  inliarmonious  arrangement  of  streets,  which  will  make  travel  so 
difficult  when  the  city  has  douliled  its  present  population. 

One  of  the  most  effective  ways  of  improving  the  appearance  of  a 
highway  is  in  the  regulation  of  the  building  line.     In  the  business 
portions  of  the  city  this  problem  takes  care  of  itself. 
Building  l>"t  all  over  the  city  on  purely  residential  streets 

Line  Regulations,  will  be  found  numerous  examples  of  single  buildings 
built  to  the  street  line,  while  the  other  twenty  or 
twenty-five  residences  have  established  a  building  line  twenty  to  thirty 
feet  back  from  the  line  of  tb(»  street,  in  order  to  liave  a  greensward 
covered  with  trees,  flowers  and  shrubliery.  Ilesideiitial  streets  slKuild 
be  protected  against  the  encroachments  of  business  estal)lishnients 
beyond  an  established  building  line.  It  is  recommended  that  building 
line  restrictions  should  be  established  on  all  lots  in  the  residential 
districts  of  the  city.  This  may  be  accomplished  in  two  ways:  First, 
the  owners  of  lots,  in  platting  their  property,  may  indicate  on  the 
subdivision  plat  a  building  line  to  whieh  all  buildings  or  other 
structures  thereon  sliall  conform,  and   iiiay  iirobibit   the  erection  or 


STUKKT    I  M  l'i;(  IVKM  KNTS. 


87 


cslitlilislniicMl  or  iii;iint('ii;iii(('  of  ;iiiy  Imsiiicss  Ikimsc  or  (he  carryiug 
ou  of  any  liusincss  on  snch  streets.  Secoml,  tin*  owners  of  ]iro])erty 
may  ])rescrilie  liy  deed  for  all  snch  restrictions.  This  is  the  cnsioniary 
way.  Vonr  <'onnnittee,  however,  i-econiniends  the  first  method  as  lieiuji 
the  more  elTi'ct ive.  In  either  ca.se  the  city  can  only  .sujijicst  such  i-estric- 
tions,  nnless  il  enters  into  condemnation  proceed iiiiis,  which  a I'e  always 
associated  with  lonj;  delays  in  the  courts.  In  providiniLi  for  tlie  ahove 
restrictions  it  will  prevent  one  |(ropert,\  owner  fr(nu  seriously  damajuing 
not  only  his  neighhor  but  all  the  residents  in  the  hlocU. 

A  city  can  no  longer  he  considered  as  a  mere  aggregation  of  separate 
huildings  erected  solely  for  the  coin'eiuence  of  the  owner.  The  city 
is  a  gi-eat  organism  with  closely  related  ]iarts.  ( 'oiise(|nently,  its 
growth  must  he  directed  and  shai)e<l.  Individual  notions  must  he 
subordinated  in  many  cases  to  the  i)reservatio]i  of  the  architectural 
beauty  of  the  whole.  This  ])rinciple  api)lies  es])ecially  to  the  erection 
of  liuildings  and  th<'  establishment  of  building  lines  along  i-esidential 
streets. 

Many  other  details  i-elatiiig  to  street  impi-o\cments  have  suggested 
themselves  to  I  he  ('(uiimittee:  b>uiilaius,  ]Miblic  convenience  stations, 
street  naming  and  numbering,  street  cleaning,  paving  and  lighting, 
signs  and  billlioards.  grade  crossings,  and  a  .score  of  other  suggestions 
which  woitld  tend  to  nuike  our  streets  more  comfortal)le,  convenient 
and  attractive.  They  only  go  to  ]irove  the  statement  made  in  the  first 
paragrajih  (d'  this  i-ejiort  that  the  streets  of  the  city  lie  at  the  bmudalion 
of  any  comprehensive  city  plan.  We  have,  however,  touched  upon  those 
which  most  directly  affect  the  permaneid  imi>rovement  of  our  highways. 
The  streets  ai-e  the  veins  and  arteries  of  the  city's  lib-.  They  atTect 
dii-eclly  its  archilectni-al  de\-elo|)meul,  bir  archile<i  ui-al  diginty  and 
s]den(lor  tirst  of  all  dejiends  upon  a  good  street  plan.  The\  alfect  the 
health  of  the  entire  po]i\ilation,  b)r  the  streets  make  jiossiiile  light  and 
air  in  the  crowded  district.  They  affect  the  haiiiiiness  and  welfare  of 
all  the  people,  for  these  avenuos  of  commuiHcation  .serve  as  the  means 
oi  social  as  w(dl  as  commercial  intercour.se  between  the  people.  80 
\\hate\('r  inii)roves  their  con\('nience  and  enhances  their  attractixcness 
will  greatly  aid  in  making  St.  Louis  the  city  which  ev<'ry  cili/.eu  wishes 

''   '"    "'■  STREET  IMPROVEMENTS  COMMITTEE. 

J.  Cii.Mii.Es.s  C.vii.w.NE.  Chairman. 
Hkhma.n  C.  VoN  ScitiiENK.     J.\mks  C.  Tk.\vh.i..\. 
TnKoi)oi!K  C.  Link  Wii.iicu  T.  Thckhloou, 

Einv.MU)  Fr.Ai>.  W.  P.  H.  Tikxek. 


A  Municipal  Art  Commission 


SUPERVISION    OF   PUBLIC   WORKS 

Tlll'y  time  scciiis  opportune  for  tlic  consiilcration  of  the  need  for  ;i 
closi-r  siipci\isioii  of  puhlic  works  in  Tliis  city  with  a  view  to 
sccnrinii',  wliore  possible,  tlie  ]iro](cr  artistic  treatment  and 
architectural  hannouy.  8t.  Louis  today  is  enterinu,'  upon  a  ]»erio(l  of 
unusual  urowth  and  expausiou.  Her  liuildinj;-  record  for  the  ]»ast  two 
years  shows  a  per  cent  of  increase  equaled  hy  few  other  larjie  American 
cities.  Tall  office  buildings  and  spacious  business  blocks  are  bein^ 
erected  in  all  ]iortions  of  the  business  district,  a  new  million-dollar 
I'ulilic  T>ibraiy  is  in  contemplation,  and  a  bond  issue  of  -SlLi'CMI.OOO  has 
been  authorized  by  the  people  for  tlw  erection  of  puldic  buildiiifis,  the 
construction  of  bridges  and  viaducls.  the  opening  of  Kingshighway  as 
a  boulcvai-d  and  tlic  jiurchase  of  addiiioiial  ]>aik  area.  Moreover, 
portions  of  the  extensive  im])i"ovements  suggested  in  the  various 
chapters  of  this  report  are  already  being  ]danned. 

I'nder  private  initiative  the  business  portion  of  the  city  has  been 
undergoing  a  complete  transformation.  Tall  office  buildings  are  every- 
where displacing  the  low,  uiisightly  structures  of 
Architectural  twenty  years  ago.  As  each  new  building  is  erected  it 
Development,  sliows  a  handsomer  and  more  decorative  exterior  treat- 
ment than  its  predecessor.  The  same  is  true  of  the 
homes  in  the  residential  districts,  ^^'herever  structures  are  erected 
by  private  initiative  great  care  is  being  taken  to  make  them  externally 
attractive.  This  architectural  progress  is  po.ssible  because  of  tlic  grow- 
ing demand  that  utilities  .shall  be  nmde  artistic  and  the  appreciation 
of  the  fact  that  a  proper  attention  to  these  artistic  features  by  the 
tiuilder  is  commercially  profitable.  They  are  secured,  however,  only 
under  the  direction  and  supei'vision  of  .skilled  architects  and  engineers. 
J^o  general  has  that  supervision  been  in  the  erection  of  private  struct- 
ures that  St.  Louis  can  claim  as  large  a  number  of  beautiful  homes  and 
comfcntable  residence  streets  as  anv  citv  in  the  countrv. 


A   MfNirirAL   ART   TOMMIPSIOX.  89 

Hut  wlicu  we  turn  to  the  common  ami  lai'st^r  lionie — tlic  city  itself — - 
and  examine  the  public  structures,  huildiiifi's,  hridnes  and  ji^^oneral  street 
adornments  built  at  public  expense  and  for  public 
Absence  purposes,  the  same  sl^illed  supervision  is  found  to 

of  the  Artistic  be  seriously  lacking.    Little  thought  lias  been  given 

in  Public  Works.  to  the  idea  of  the  proper  grouping  of  ])ublic  build- 
ings, the  adornment  of  bridges,  viaducts  and  street 
fixtures  and  the  elimination  of  those  elements  wiiich  detract  from  the 
appearance  of  the  highways  and  the  buildings  erected  along  them.  In 
short,  municipal  art  has  been  given  so  little  attention  in  the  develop- 
ment of  t^t.  [.ouis  that  public  structures  in  this  regard  have  clearly 
lagged  beliind  those  erected  by  private  individuals  or  corporations. 

While  this  condition  may  l)e  attributed  to  several  causes,  such  as 
tlie  meager  api)ropriations  frequently  made  for  ]mblic  buildings  which 
lead  city  ofticials  half-heartedly  to  select  whatever  site  is  ottered,  the 
influence  of  ]iartisan  politics  in  municipal  affairs,  and  the  too  often 
lack  of  vital  civic  interest  on  the  i)art  of  the  citizens,  the  chief  cause  is 
tlie  absence  of  a  comprehensive  i>lau  and  a  broad  outlook  on  the  part  of 
those  entrusted   Avith   the  construction   of   municipal    works. 

The  municipal  portion  of  a  city's  growtli  demands  the  same  skilled 
direction  which  is  given  to  private  construction  and  the  same  broad 
and  far-sighted  planning  which  characterize  the  building  of  a  modern 
university  or  an  international  exposition,  iloreover,  this  guidance  is 
all  tlie  more  necessary  because  of  the  rajiidly  increasing  growth  of 
urban  centers,  tlie  larger  demand  for  jmblic  structures  in  the  form  of 
public  baths  and  playgrounds,  public  libraries  and  schools,  civic  centers 
and  general  juiblic  utilities,  and  the  wides])read  interest  manifested  in 
the  movement  for  a  more  comfortable  and  attractive  city. 

Everywhere  citie.s  are  seeking  not  only  the  useful  but  the  linnnoiiious 
and  the  ai'cbitecturally  lieautiful  in  jmblic  works  of  e\ci-\  kiml.  This 
new  sjtirit  is  exiiressing  itself  in  the  increased  (leinaiid 
Demand  for  made  ui)on   the  municipality  for  well-paved   streets. 

Municipal  Art.  massive  buildings,  public  conveniences,  ninnumeuts 
and  statuary.  Public  lilnaiies  are  being  built  not 
only  for  books  but  also  for  art;  modern  scliool  buildings  are  eri'cted  not 
only  for  housing  education  but  as  educative  in  themselves;  halls  of 
legishilion  are  being  decorated  with  iiniial  ](ainriiigs  ms  be;iutifnl  as 
the  frescoes  of  the  modern  theater  or  art  gallery,  and  federal  and 
municii)al  buildings  are  no  longer  complete  without  their  groiijis  of 


90  A    (  TIY     I'l.A.N     I'dl!    SAINT    I.dllS. 

stiituiir.v  ;iii(l  Dther  exterior  decorations.  Ail  tins  is  a  result,  to  a 
consideralilc  extent,  of  tiie  a])i)reciation  of  the  fact  tliat  a  city,  if  it 
would  lie  fi-uly  ureat,  must  not  only  l»e  conunercially  ])o\verfnl  lint  also 
altraciivc  \i>  tiiose  wlm  reside  wiihiu  its  limits  and  In  iliosc  wliu  visit 
it   tor  ]>leasnre  or  Imsiness. 

St.  Lnuis  has  felt  the  im|iulse  of  this  ^row  inu  artistic  sense  lo  w  hich 
a  remai-kalile  stimulus  was  ;niven  liy  the  Louisiana  rurcha.s<'  Exjiosition. 
There  the  ])eo])le  of  the  cit\'  had  i>laced  liefoi-e  them  the  tinest  and  most 
artisti<' of  architectural  desii;iis.  They  saw  not  only  the  nohlest  forms  of 
art  hut  they  saw  the  practical  wa,\'  in  which  streets.  s(|uares  and  huild- 
iiiiis  can  he  inrouiK'd  so  as  to  jiroduce  the  most  harmonious  and  diuintied 
ettects.  These  intiuences  and  the  intiuem-es  of  wider  traxcl  hav<'  so 
de\'elo]ied  the  aesthetic  desires  amonj);  the  i»eo])le  (d'  this  city  that  ihey 
will  not  in  the  future  he  satisfied  w  ilh  hare  walls,  uiiadoi-ned  exteriors, 
and  isolated  and  unrelated  jinhlic  Imildiuiis.  Thev  will  demand  those 
factors  in  municipal  culture  atid  art  which  i;ive  tone  atid  spirit  to  a 
city.  ( )h\i(»usl\-  if  we  would  ha\e  these  element^  of  art  introduced  into 
puhlic  im]>rovenieuts  we  must  have  the  work  supervised  li\  men  who 
know  \vliat  constitutes  the  truly  .-irtistic  and  how    hest   to  ohtain  it. 

|]uro]iean  cities  have  lonji  since  learned  that  the  designs  and  local  ion 
for  puhlic  hnildiuiis  and  the  erection  of  hriditcs,  viaducts,  fountains  and 
statuary  can  not  he  entrusted  to  the  artistic  sense 
Municipal  Art  "'  ''"'  individual  citizen.      Tn  most  of  the  (lerman 

in  European  Cities,  cities  there  are  dei>aitments  of  municiiial  exten- 
sion to  which  all  contemplated  im]>ro\-ements  that 
to  any  deui-ee  affect  the  ]>uhlic  at  larsje  must  he  suhmitted.  This  Hoard 
considers  the  iiiiprovemeni  not  only  for  its  intrinsic  worth  hut  in  its 
K'lation  to  the  ueneral  street  or  huihlinu-  ]dan  it(  the  city.  The  ]dans 
suhmitted  may  he  artistic  in  themselves,  hut  if  they  are  whollv  out  of 
harmony  with  the  general  scheme  of  imiirovements  they  are  likely  to 
he   rejected. 

Paris,  althoiiiih  it  lias  no  olflcial  art  commission  to  jiass  upon  pulilie 
works,  calls  in  its  leadiuii  artists  and  exjierts  to  advise  with  the 
city  whenever  extensive  ]dans  for  im](roveim'nts  are  contem](lated. 
Kifi'id  re.uuhit  ions  control  the  erection  of  huildiuiis  and  the  improvement 
of  streets.  Street  fixtures  and  fnrnishinjis  are  not  oidy  required  to 
he  made  of  certain  nuiterial  and  size,  hut  they  must  have  "in  elevation 
a  decorative  appearance  in  luirmony  with  the  situation." 


A    MLNHITAI-    AUT   COMMISSION.  91 

In  tliis  couutrv  iiuini(i]jal  art  s(Hi('tics  years  ajjo  hfiian  the  agitation 

for  ;i   jirojicr  ai-tistic  siijH'vvisioii  of  ])ul)lic  woi-ks,  hut  the  nioveiiieiit 

iiKik  (Icriiiilc  fni-ni  in  IS'.tS  in  New  Vorii  wiicii  tlie 
New  York  Municipal  -^i'  <"<>inniissiun  cpf  ilir  (iiy  nf  New  Ym-U  was 
Art  Commission.  estaitlishcd    hy   law.     Tliis  ( 'onniiissinn   consists 

(if  tile  .Mayor  of  I  lie  (iicater  New  ^'ork.  tlie 
President  of  ilic  iiiooklyn  Institnte  of  .Vrts  and  Sciences,  tlie  I'resident 
of  tlic  i'ulilic  i.iliiaiy  and  six  oiIht  iiiciiilicrs  a|)]poinicd  liy  the  .Mayor 
and  inclnding  one  i)ainter,  one  scul|)tor  and  one  architect.  Cnder  the 
charter  of  the  (Jreater  New  Yoik  the  < 'oinniission  has  jnrisdiction  over: 

(11}  All  woiks  of  art  lo  he  a<(|uired  iiy  the  City  of  New  York 
hy  jMirchase.  uift  or  otherwise,  including;  jiaintings, 
iiiural  decorations.  scul])ture.  iiMinunii-nts.  foiuiTains, 
ar<-lies  or  other  forms  oi  a  permanent  character  intended 
for  ornament  or  commemoration. 

[b  \  The  removal,  relocation  or  aliei-atioiis  in  any  way  of  all 
works  of  art  already  posses.sed  hy  the  city. 

{(•)  All  designs  of  iiiiinici|ial  Intildings,  hridges.  aii])roaches, 
gates,  fences,  lamiis  or  other  structure  erecteil  or  to  he 
erected  upon  land  lielonging  to  the  city  costing  o\cr 
$l,0(t(».nO(l. 

( '/ 1  Arches,  hi-idges.  structures  and  aiiinoaches.  the  iirojierty 
of  jirivate  individuals  or  comifanies.  \\hi<li  shall  e.\tetid 
o\'er  or  ii])oii  aii\'  strei't.  ]iark  or  jnililic  place. 

No  works  of  art  can  heconie  the  jirojierty  of  ihe  ('ity  of  New  ^'or]< 
unless  a  design  oi-  the  work  itself  and  its  location  is  first  jiassed  U])on 
and  accepteil  l>y  tlie  Coininission.  Nor  can  aii.\  existing  work  of  art 
he  removed,  relocated  or  in  any  wa\  he  altered  unless  tin-  ])lans  are 
first  siihmitted  to  and  aii])ioved  h\   rh<'  ( 'omniission. 

The  e.Kteiit  of  the  < 'ommission's  work  and  its  elfectiveness  in  secur- 
ing a  higher  artistic  standard  in  pidilic  works  is  shown  liy  the  nuniher  of 
suhniissions  made  to  it  in  I'.Ht:?  and  1005.  In  l!tO:{  <uii'  hundred  and 
seventeen  snhmissions  were  made  iiivolv  jn^^  a]i]pio\iniately  >!;?:i,(!()(l,Oll(), 
of  which  tifty-five  were  rejected.  In  I'.Miri  one  liiindred  and  live  snh- 
missions wei'c  made  involving  approximately  slS.tKMt, 0(1(1,  of  which 
twenty-two  were  disa]iproved  in  w  hoh-  or  in  ]»art.  These  iiulinled 
pulilic  haths.  tire  engine  houses,  hos|)ital  huildings,  hoat  houses  and 
]iavilions.  hridge  terminals,  fountains,  nieiiioi-ial  talilets,  hroiiz<'  husts, 
mural  decorations  in  school  hnildings.  scul|)tures.  ornamental   pillars 


92  A    CITY    ri.A.N     lOK    SAINT    I.dllS. 

ill  |)iii-ks,  nioiiniiicnts,  ('(incstrian  stjitucs.  tlic  rcloration  of  statues  and 
tlic  ivstdi-atioii  of  ixtrtraits.  The  ('oiiiniission  is  tlius  hi-(iiii;lit  into 
otticial  relation  with  nearly  every  department  of  the  city  iLiDvcninient, 
and  wliilc  it  has  only  advisory  ])o\vers  its  criticisnis  furnish  a  stronjr 
iiiduccMU'iit  to  the  jirojici-  artistic  treatment  of  tlic  \arious  forms  of 
jiulilic  works. 

So  satisfactory  have  hccn  tiic  rcsiilis  ot  llic  cxitcriciicc  in  New  York 
that    six   other  cities   have   by   statute   or   ordinance  eslaltlished    Art 

Commissions,  followinjj'  closely  the  New  York  pro- 
Art  Commissions  visions;  ISoston,  (*hicaj;d,  Detroit,  Baltimore, 
in  Other  Cities.  Denver  and  Los  Ansieles.     In  every  case  the  work 

of  tlu'se  commissions  is  to  ]n-otect  ratiier  tlian  to 
initiate.  T]ie_\-  act  as  critics  of  ])roi)osed  imjirovements  or  serxc  in 
an  advisory  capacity  with  other  city  ofticials  in  ])lanning  puhlic  works. 
The  membership  of  the  Commissions  include,  as  in  New  York,  experts 
in  the  different  phases  of  municipal  art.  and  their  services  are  uratui- 
tous. 

An  Art  Commission  with  similar  i)o\\crs  and  duties  should  he  created 
in  St.  Louis.  Had  one  existed  years  asi'o  a  million-dollar  ("ity  Hall 
would  not  have  been  isolated  in  the  nudst  of  uusiiihtly  and  dila])idated 
Itnildiii^Lis,  the  stately  old  Court  House  would  not  have  been  marred 
liy  a  coat  of  ])aint,  and  the  artistic  fealures  of  ])ublic  works  would  have 
a  <lecidedly  hiiiher  tone  than  at  present.  Tlie  ])reseut  charter  confers 
njion  the  IJoard  of  l*ublic  Improvements  complete  authority  over  public 
w<n-ks  of  all  kinds,  and  a  comnussion,  if  established  under  it,  would 
have  advisory  powers  only,  and  could  he  called  into  consultation  only 
when  re(|nested  by  the  Hoard  of  Public  Imi)rovements.  It  is  the  hope 
of  this  ("ommittee  that  a  body  of  thirteen  freejiohlers  will  be  chosen  in 
the  near  future  and  iliat  a  new  charter  ma.\'  be  adoiUeil  which  will 
provide  for  the  j)ro]ier  supcr\  isioii  and  eiicouraiicmeut  of  uiunici](al  art 
in  St.  Louis. 

What  is  to  he  accomplished  in  the  estalilishmeut  of  a  municii)al  art 
commission,  and  the  develojimeiit   i>i'  the  aitisiir  in  municipal  judilic 

works?  It  is  not  merely  art  for  art's  sake.  As 
Reasons  i)oiuted    out    abo\-e.     it     adds    to    the    attractive- 

for  a  Municipal  ness    of    a    city    as    a    ])lace    <if   residence    and    it 

Art   Commission.       eidiam-es    its    commercial    importance,    but     more 

than  all  it  arouses  a  civic  spirit  anions  all  the 
peojile  and  creates  a  pride  in  the  city.  A  citizen's  love  of  the  city  is  not 
an  abstract  sentiment,  it  attaches  itself  to  the  beautiful  in  the  city.     If 


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A    .Mr.Mdl'AL    Altr    COM  MISSION.  93 

\V(>  would  liavo  oiii  i)('()])l('  united  for  the  iiplmildinji-  of  St.  Louis  we 
sliould  sui-i'ouud  tlicui  with  illusti-iitious  of  tlic  city's  tii-catncss.  The 
artistic  should  charactcrizi'  not  only  the  yroup  center  ahout  the  City  Hall 
hilt  il  sliould  he  distrihuled  llirouiihoiit  llie  lity  w  hcre\er  (he  ])oople 
couiii-ciiate.  i!ri<l.n('s  sliould  he  made  artistic  as  we]]  as  useful;  hroad 
tiioroui^hfares  should  he  the  sites  for  a  firaceful  fouutaiu  or  liistoric 
statues;  engine  houses,  ])olice  stations  and  iiuhlic  liatlis  should  lie 
constructed  with  the  art istic  element  in  view. 

This  city's  history  is  full  of  interestinii  events  wliicli  should  he 
commemorated  in  hronze  or  stone:  the  landinii  <tf  Laclede,  the  transfer 
of  the  territory  from  Sjiain  to  France  and  I'rance  to  the  I'nited  States, 
the  Lewis  and  ('lark  Iv\])editioii,  liie  eslalijislimciil  of  niiiiiicipal  ixov- 
erumeut  iu  1822,  and  a  nuniher  (d'  historical  sites  whiidi  have  played 
an  important  part  in  St.  Louis  history.  We  need  monuments  com- 
memorative of  the  fireat  mtni  who  lived  their  lives  an<l  did  their  effective 
work  in  this  city.  Triangles  at  street  intersections  which  are  passed 
daily  hy  thousands  should  he  tlie  centers  of  historic  interests.  I'y 
means  of  these  pieces  of  art  and  hy  the  artistic  treatment  of  puhlic 
improvements  the  city  \\()uld  cul1i\ate  the  nohlest  aspirations  of  the 
people,  who  would  i;ro\v  to  consider  tiie  municipality  not  merely  as  a 
teni])oi-ary  dwelling  jdace  hut  as  a  desirahle  home  and  a  city  with 
whose  greatness  they  are  proud  to  he  identitied. 

The  city  can  not  get  away  from  the  utilitarian.      Its  rea.son  for  heing 
is  its  utility,  hut  there  are  many  ways  iu  which  utilities  can  he  treated 
artistically     without    injuring    their    utility.     The 
Utilities  ar(  hitectural    heauty    of   our   sjilendid    new    school 

Made  Artistic.  liuildings  do  not  mar  their  usefulness;  the  sculjiture 
attached  to  the  Customs  House  in  New  ^'ork  does 
not  deti-act  frcnn  its  service;  the  statuary  which  <-row  lis  the  approaches 
to  Paris  hridges  do  not  injure  them  as  thoroughfares;  hut  their 
effect  on  the  life  and  s]iirit  of  a  city  can  not  he  nu'asui-ed.  "A  forced 
familiarity  with  ugliness  dulls  a  taste  for  heauty,"  hut  the  constant 
jiresence  of  heauty  in  utility  heightens  the  ci\ic,  ;esi|irtic  and  moral 
tone  of  the  entire  iiopnlalion. 

Tlie  Mississiit])i  Kivei-  is  alioiil  to  he  crossed  liy  another  hridge,  .Mill 
Creek  ^'alle.\■  is  to  have  hridges  and  ini|iro\ciiieiils  to  the  exteiii  of  a 
million  (hdlars,  Kingshighway  is  to  cross  the  valley  over  a  sione 
viaduct,  and  the  tirsi  elTort  to  secure  a  harmonious  groui)ing  of  puhlic 
huildings   will   soon   he  made.      These   improvements  should   he  under 

10 


94  A     (ITV     I'LA.N     rilK    SAl.N'l'     l.dllS. 

the  careful  and  judicious  supcrvisidu  itf  a  coiiiniissiou,  coniijoscd  of 
cxjuTtM,  similar  to  those  in  other  cities.  It  is  only  in  this  wa.v  that 
St.  Louis  can  hope  to  foster  and  cultivate  a  true  civic  art.  We  would, 
therefore,  reconniiend  that  at  the  earliest  ixissihlc  date  an  aniendnient 
to  the  charter  of  the  city  he  secured  so  that  a  .Munici])al  Art  Coniniis- 
sion  can  he  created  and  fiivi'U  i^cneral  suitei-vision  o\('r  these  necessary 
artistic  featui-es  of  a  city's  life  and  jiTowth. 

MUNMCII'AL  ART  COMMITTEE. 

J.   Lawkknce  M.\cr.\n.  ClKtirman. 

W .    K.    BlXliV,  MCKRAV   C.VRLKTON, 

.]()UN  Fowi.KK.  Halskv  C.  Ivks. 


Legislation 


NECESSARY    TO    MAKE    POSSIBLE    THE     RECOMMENDATIONS 
OF    THE    SEVERAL    COMMITTEES 

ACAKEFl'L  analysis  of  tlic  rcjxn-ts  of  the  several  coiiiiiiittees  aii<l 
the  extensive  ini]trovejnents  which  they  recommend  shows  that 
additional  legislation  will  he  necessary  to  make  it  possible  within 
the  next  twenty  years  to  cai'ry  ont  the  valuahle  snitjicstions  which  tiiey 
have  outlined  in  this  city  plan.  In  order  to  make  clear  the  nature 
of  the  lejiislation  needed  the  followinij'  summary  is  <>iven  of  the  more 
comprehensive  and  ex]iensive  imjn-ovements  recommended  hy  the 
\ai"ious  committees. 

1.  The  iirou])in<>-  of  i>ul)lic  buildings  either  along  a  central  mall 
extending  from  the  ])roi)osed  ])ublic  library  at  Thirteenth  and  Olive 
Streets  to  the  (Mty  Hall  at  Thirteenth  and  Clark  Avenue,  or  along 
Twelfth  Street  between  Eleventh  and  Thirteenth.  In  either  case  it 
will  re(|uii'e  the  condemnation  oi-  pui-chase  of  much  projierty  foi-  this 
improvenu'ut. 

'2.  The  establishment  (d'  civic  centers,  especially  in  the  crowded 
portions  of  the  city,  by  groui»ing  minor  public  and  (|uasi-])ublic  institu- 
ti(nis  about  a  central  ]iark,  i)layground  or  o]>en  s])ace;  such  institutions 
as  ])ul>lic  baths,  branch  libraries,  public  and  ])arochial  schools, 
cliurches,  ])olice  stations,  tire  engine  houses,  model  tenements,  social 
settlenu'nts  and  the  hea(l(|uarters  for  athletic,  .social,  charitable  and 
jMtlitical  organizations. 

B,  The  improvement  of  the  street  ]dau  of  the  city  by  (he  const  ruc- 
tion of  an  extensive  es]tlanade  along  the  river-front  between  the  Kads 
r>ridge  and  Poplar  Street,  the  opening  of  a  broad  thoroughfare  from 
Twelfth  Street  to  the  rniou  Station,  the  widening  of  Twelfth  Street 
from  Market  Sti-eet  south  to  Mill  Creek  X'alley,  and  the  estaidishment 
of  restricted  driveways  from  the  northern,  western  and  soutliei-n 
])ortions  of  the  city. 

4.  The  construction  of  an  inner  an<l  outer  system  of  ]>arks  and 
boulevards  containing  some  five  thousand  acres  of  park  land  and  more 


96  A    CITY    I'l.AN    FOIt    SAINT    LOVIS. 

tliiiii    foi-ty  miles  of  ])iirk\\iivs,   iiuludiii^  the  Imildiiiii  of  a   inv(»rsi(le 
drive. 

5.  The  creatiim  of  a  Miiiiicijtal  Ail  ( "oiiiiiiissioii  wliicli  shall  have 
general  siiiK'rvision  o\-er  the  desit;iis  of  all  jiuIpIIc  Imihiiiiiis  and  over 
all  works  of  art  to  he  erected  in  the  cil.v. 

PROBLEM    OF    COST 

The  first  serious  ]irolileiii  in  comiectioii  with  so  ronipi-clieiisiNc  and 
far-reaehinii'  a  plan  of  iiuidic  iniproxcnienl  is  the  eost.  AN'hile  the 
several  eoniniittees  have  not  attenii>led  to  estimate 
Two  Solutions,  the  amount  of  nnuiiciiial  revenue  neeessary  to  carry 
into  elfeet  tlH'ir  recommendation,  it  is  safe  to  say 
that  the  sum  total,  scattered  ovei-  the  jieriod  of  ten  to  twenty  years, 
will  exceed  §;2r),000,0()0.  There  are  two  methods  hv  which  this  larmc 
sum  can  be  raised  as  the  improvements  projiiess.  First,  by  an  increase 
in  the  amount  of  iicneral  rev<'nues  of  the  city  from  taxation,  a  portion 
of  which  mi.nht  annually  he  set  a])art  for  these  pei-manent  improve- 
ments; or,  second,  by  an  increase  in  the  city's  bonded  indebtedness. 

The  jtreseut  rate  of  taxation  for  city  2)ur])oses  is  .fl.8.")  on  the  .'^^KIO 
of  assessed  valuation.     The  assessed  valuation  is  G6  2-3  per  cent  of  the 
I'eal  value,  but  this  two-thirds  basis  of  assessment  is 
Unequal  nuiinfained    in   only   a   few   sections  of  the  city.      In 

Assessment  of      the   outlyinji  or   residential   districts   the  assessment 
Taxes.  averajies   ])robably   (5.5  per  cent,   while   in    the  down- 

town business  ])ortioii,  according'  to  reliable  authority, 
it  does  not  exceed  in  many  instances  40  jx'r  cent  of  the  real  value.  If 
all  taxable  property  in  the  city  of  St.  I>ouis  were  assessed  for  the  full 
66  2-3  ])er  cent  of  its  value,  the  mnnici]ial  revenue,  it  has  been  estimated, 
would  be  increased  at  least  .f.5,006,(Mt(t.  A  jportion  of  this  amount,  if 
collected,  niiiiht  be  used  to  inauii'urate  .some  of  these  improvenieut.s 
weic  it  not  for  the  fact  that  the  ra])idly  increasing'  cost  of  maintaining 
the  municipal  machinery  and  the  adtlitioual  demands  made  upon  the 
city  for  the  protection  of  the  health  and  comfort  of  the  people  will 
nmke  it  necessary  in  the  near  future  to  utilize  all  of  the  additional 
revenue,  resulting  from  a  more  einiitable  assessment,  to  meet  the 
oi'dinary  ex])ens(»s  of  the  city  government. 


LllCISI.ATKlN. 


97 


Till'    .Municipal    Assciiihlv    can,    under    the    charter    anicmlnicnts 
adoptcil   in  1!i()l.  increase  the  rate  of  taxation  for  certain  purposes, 
when  tlie  rate  for  such  an  increase  and  tlie  jmritoscs 
Bond  f'^i'  ^vliich  it  is  intended  shall  have  lieen  snlmiiired 

Issue  Necessary,  to  and  approved  liv  the  peoj)le.  Uut  an  increase 
sufficient  to  carry  out  the  plans  couteniplated  in 
tliis  rei)ort  within  the  next  ten  or  fifteen  years  would  sultject  the  tax- 
l)ayers  to  too  great  a  burden  and  Avould  Ite  levying  upon  tiieni  the  wlnde 
cost  of  improvements  which  should  he  shared  by  the  next  generation. 
The  greater  pniiiun  of  the  cost  should,  therefore,  we  helieve.  ccmie  from 
the  i.s.suance  of  nninicii)al  bonds.  The  present  total  bonded  debt  tif  the 
city,  including  the  recent  |11,200,000  boud  issue,  is  s8i',()l!»,L'78.  Tiiis 
is  within  .s4, 000, (100  of  the  five  per  cent  limit,  as  fixed  by  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  State,  and  any  increase  in  the  lionded  debt  of  liie  ciiy  iieyond 
that  point  would  require  a  constitutional  amendment. 

A  comparison  of  American  cities  in  regard  to  the  legal  bori-owing 
limit,  total  indebtedness,  per  capita  indebtedness,  basis  of  assessment 

for  taxing  purposes  and  the  general  i)roperty  tax 
St.  Louis  '■'^^''  1"'''  ■'^^•"Otl  of  true  value,  as  gathered  from  tin- 

Indebtedness  Low.      T'nited  States  Census  Reports,  will  .><bo\\  ibat  not 

only  is  the  total  and  per  capita  deitt  of  St.  Lcmis 
less  in  projiortion  to  the  population  than  any  of  the  first  ten  cities, 
but  that  the  extent  to  which  she  can  become  indebted,  the  l)asis  of 
a.ssessment  and  the  actual  tax  rate  per  $1,000  of  tlie  true  value  of  real 
and  personal  jiroperty  is  below  the  avei-age. 


1"   f 

1   u 

X 

^i 

^-lell 

1    X      £^  • 

at.— a'^i 

—  C  C  3S~  = 

Cities. 

-il 

=  bl 

III 

.^"' 

■7  ?-  2[^c 

-  r'"r  -  ^  R  > 

t*  = 

-^ 

-"  X 

"  -  -^  —  ■    I. 

—     — 

—  *~ 

- 

-    5  '•  Z'~ 

—          —  ~ 

New  York... 

3,888,180 

10% 

$599,460,532 

$154.18 

100 

$15.17 

("liicapo 

l.i)32.315 

5%* 

64..593.547» 

33.4.3* 

15* 

S.06* 

Pliilad.lphia. 

l,:i>)2.:iS9 

7% 

71.82(i.317 

51.58 

UK) 

14. .50 

St.  Louis 

024,626 

5% 

22.738.442 

.■i(j.4ll 

li'i-*3 

14.14 

Boston 

588,482 

2^% 

94,121,(i(lti 

l."i!l.94 

1(H) 

14.47 

Baltimore  . . . 

.■)3S,765 

no  limit 

39.9(;2.S.S:i 

74  17 

85 

16  29 

Cleveland..  .. 

42.5.632 

7'. 

23.9!l.'i.4(l2 

.')(i.38 

60 

15.11 

ButTalo 

372.035 

Wi 

19.770.105 

.-.3.14 

67  and  100 

13.13 

Pittsliurtr 

3.52,852 

7% 

25,()77.2.")8 

72.77 

67  and  100 

12.46 

Citiciimati . . . 

341.444 

no  limit 

37.5.')9.140 

110.00 

60 

9.64 

*  Note:    This  docs  not  include  Chicatro's  porti<»n  nt  the  drainaffe  canal  lieht.  nor  ht-r  park  *>onds. 


98 


A    CITY    I'LAX     rol!    SAINT    I.onS. 


Wliilc  these  eom])aris(ins  indiciite  tliiit  Si.  I.onis  mi^lit  safely  IkukI 
lleiscll' seven  ])el' cent  (»f  her  assessed  value,  which,  it  lias  lieeil  asserted 

hy  eoiiipetent  authority,  iiiijiht  he  done  without  in 
Increase  in  ''"'  Ipast  endaniicrinj;-  her  eredit,  it  is  not  at  all 

Borrowing-  Limit  jn-ohahle  that  the  \()ters  of  tlie  city  and  State  would 
Unwise.  at  ])resent  a]i|n-o\('  a  constitntional  amendinenl   to 

tliat  effect,  es])ecially  as  it  has  i n  only  a  few  years 

sinci  they  a]i|>roved  an  aniendnieni  anthorizini;  the  cily  of  St.  Louis 
to  increase  her  honded  deht.  Moreo\-er.  additional  iionds  under  ihe 
present  live  per  cent  horrowing  limit  will  he  jmssihle  as  pro]ierty  values 
increase  and  the  existiui;'  houded  indehteduess  is  i-educed  hy  the  sinkinji 
fund.  The  followinu'  tahle  ]»rei)ared  hy  ('onii)troller  Player  will  in- 
dicate the  i)rol)ahI('  revenues  each  year  from  these  soui-ces,  a  portion 
of  which,  at  least,  will  he  availahle  for  cai-ryinii  out  needed  i)uldic 
impro\'ement  in  the  form  of  ])arks  and  ]dayi;i-ouiids.  |nihlic  haths, 
houlevards,  civic  centers  and  puhlic  huildin<is. 


Limit  of 

Total 

Sinking  Fund 

Net  Debt 

Indebtedness. 

Amount  to 

Year. 

Assessed 

OutstaniliiiK 

Payments 

Outstandine 

Ineliiilim;  Old 

Wliicdi  the 

Valuations. 

Diirinff  the 

at  Close  of 

Comity  Di-ht 

Debt  May  be 

Beffinniiit:  of 

Tear. 

Year. 

and 

Increased. 

\ear. 

Water  Bonds. 

1900. 
1901 . 
1902. 
1903. 

1904. 
l!)ll.'>. 
1900. 


1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 
1920. 


$3S().7fM,L'4l.'.0n  $19.:i!l2,'J78.00  $ 
:i!l4,7l'L',7(IJ.OO  IS,inti.l'7S.()U  .. 


4 1(i, 720,040.00 
44U,!l.")S.17:i.()() 

4.')S,yi:i. (1(17. 1)1) 

4fi8.7S0.G:t0.U0 


18,!)IU,27,S.00 
23,910,278.00 
23,730.278.00 
23,53!).278.()0 


470,000.00  $18,1)10, 278. (l()'$l!l.(i:!S, 202. 00  $ 

"  00 
00 
00 


180,000.00 

197,000.00 

1,100.01)0.00 


18,1)10,278.00 
18,910,278.001 
23,730,278.00 
23,.-)30,278.00 
22,430.278. 00 


!),730,l:i, 
20,830,032 
33,000. 908 
34.804,(180 
.34,458,031 
3.'),880,408 


121. 084.00 
Sl!l,8.")7.00 
,i)l!),7ri4.l)0 
23O.(i:{U.O0 
325.402.00 
018  7:)3.00 
00  14,807,130.00 


00    11, 
00    I'J 


497,348, 17:).00   22,4.3i),27S.OO,  1,420.000.00   21,019,278.00 
Estimated  ou  the  basi.s  of  an  animal  increase  in  asse.ssed  values  of  $0,000,000 


$503,348,175. 
509,348,175 
515.348,175. 
521.348,175, 
527,348,175 
533,348,175 
530.348,175 
545,348.175 
.'i51.348,175 
557,348,175 
563,348,175 
509,348,175 
575,348,175 
581,348,175 


00  $21 

00  32 

00  31 

00  29 

00  28 

,00  28 

,00  28 

00  2 

,00,  25 

,00  25 

00  22 

,00  22 

,00  20 

,00  19 


019,278 
,010,278 
,010.278 
,519,278 
844,278, 
,044.278, 
,01)0,000, 
.000,000, 
740.310 
740.310 
840.310 
840,310 
271,310 
990,310 


00$ 
00    1, 


.01 


00 

00 
00 

00  1 

00    1 

00 

01) 

00  . 
00  : 

DO 

00  . 


200,000. 
000,000. 
.500.0110. 
075.000. 
200,000. 
044,278, 
,000,000, 
2.50,000, 


00  $32, 
00  31, 
00  20 
00  28. 
00  28. 
00 
00 
00 


iH 


2,000,000.00 


.578,000  (10    20 
275,000.00    19,: 
19 


010,278.00 
019.278.00 
jl!l,278.00 
844.278.00 
(144,278.00 
OOD.OOO.OO 
000,000.00 
740,310.00 
749,310.00 
840,310.00 
840.310.00 
271,310.00 
996,310.00 
990,310.00 


$3(i, 
30, 

:i(i 

37, 
.37. 
37, 
37, 
38, 
38, 
38, 
30 
30 
39, 
40 


180,408 
486.408 
780,408 
080,408 
380,408 
080,408 
!)8(i,408 
281;,  408 
.58(i,408 
880,408 
180.408 
48(1,408 
780.408 
080,408 


00  $  4 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 


00  10 

(JO  12 

00  12 

OO  10 

00  10 

00  10 

00  1!) 

00  20 


,107.130.00 
4(J7, 130.00 
207,130.00 
242.130.00 
742.130.00 
(180.408.00 
080.408.00 
537,098.00 
837.(J08.()0 
037.008.00 
337,0!)8.0() 
215,008.00 
790.098.00 
090,098.00 


The    ahove   tahle    shows    that    in    the   years    re.speetively    hetween 
1!H)T  and   l!»lH(  the  city,   in   all    proiialiility,   will   he  ahle  to   increase 


IJXilSI.ATION.  99 

licr  lioiKlcd  (l('l)t  hy  tlic  folldwiii^  sums:  1!t()7, 
$19,590,098  in  $4.]r.7.l:{0  ;  litOS,  f  1,(I()(»,(I0(I;  ]<»()<».  .Sfl.SOO.ddd;  1!»1(), 
Bonds  by    1920.     .>if!(7r>,(lO((;    1911,    .|5()(MMMI;    I'.ili.'.    .s'.i44.JTS;    liU:?. 

.fl.aOO.OdO;  1914,  .fl,,5r)0,r)!»(»;  I'.ll.",,  .s;:',()(MIO(l;  litlC), 
!if3.2(IO.(l<l(l;  1917,  .|:i(10,()(l(l ;  lillS.  .1fL»,S7S,000 ;  1919.  |47.1,000;  1929, 
.f^dO.OOO— ii  total  of  .1i;19..");td.d9S  in  tliiitccii  years.  Tlic  ('oin]>tn)llt*r's 
tiiiiii'cs  arc  based  ujioii  a  $(i,d(ld,dOO  aiimial  increase  in  tlic  assesse<l 
valiiation  of  property,  wliicli  lie  considers  an  cxti-ciiicly  consci-\ali\'c 
cstiniale  in  \icw  ot  tlic  fact  tliat  durinji  tin'  past  ten  xcai-s  tlic  annual 
averaiic  increase  has  licen  approximately  fin.ddd.ddlt. 

TIk  iiii|»ro\-ciiicnls  conlem](lated  in  tlie  rc]>orts  of  the  various  com- 
iiiiliccs  will  necessarily  extend  ovci-  a  jicriod  of  severjil  years,  and  the 
issuani-c  of  bonds  for  such  ])Ui'i)oses  must,  in  e\ci-y  case,  be  made  with 
the  consent  of  the  voters.  W'r  are,  therefore,  of  the  oi>iiiion  that  until 
the  ])cople  become  con\inced  of  I  lie  necessity  for  hasteninji'  these  ex- 
tensive public  works  in  oi-der  to  make  St.  Louis  a  moi-c  attractive  city 
and  jiermit  her  to  kee])  pace  with  other  American  cities  in  this  res])ect, 
it  would  he  better  to  plan  the  inqirovements  in  accordance  with  the 
•iradual  increase  in  the  amount  of  bonds  which  the  city  can  issue  within 
the  next  twehc  or  fifteen  years,  instead  of  atleiiii)tiini  to  seciii-e  an 
ini-rease  in  the  borrowing  limit  by  consiiiiitional  amendment. 

EUROPEAN  MK'IHOI)  OF  P.VYINC;  FOR  IMPROVEMENTS 

In  this  connection  it  is  interesliuii  to  note  the  melhod  adopteil  ity 
foreiiin  cil ies  lo  meel  lliccost  of  contemjilated  municipal  iiiiitroMMiienls, 

)>articularly  the  widenini;-  of  streets  or  the  o](eu- 
Cities  Reap  Benefits  i".-  "''  '"■"  tlnn-ou.uhfares.  In  a  number  of 
of  Enhanced  Values.      instances  ihe  cities  not  only  condenine<l  the  land 

actually  needed  for  the  imiiro\cments.  but  ap- 
])ro]iriated  also  the  abiittinii  pro])ei-ty,  whi(di  was  aficiwards  re-sold.  In 
the  re-sale  the  cities  reimbursed  themselves,  in  iiart  at  least,  foi-  the 
expenditure  by  rea]>in.ii'  the  benetits  accruinii'  from  I  lie  enhanced  values 
due  to  the  improNcineiits.  I'aris,  followinii  Ibis  ]iriiiciplc.  biiill  the 
Avenue  de  L'(  )])era  at  an  act  iial  ])rolil  to  I  he  city.  N'ieiina  coni]dete(l  her 
famous  Uinjistrasse  in  the  same  wa\'.  In  London,  a  thoroughfare  one 
hundred  feet  wide  was  driven  throui;li  a  crow<led  ilistrict  from  llolboi-n 
(c  Siraud.  Not  oiil,\-  was  ihc  hundred  feel  rij;hl-of-w  ay  condemned 
but  Ihe  conliiiuous  blocks  on  either  side  of  the  new  street  wci-e  ap- 
pro[)riated.     The  eiilii-e  imjirovi'inent  tost  the  city  £(),i2d,3Sd  sterliui;', 


100  A     riTY     I'l.AN     I'Ol!     SAINT    I.OT'IS. 

i>v  inui-c  ilian  po.dOO.OdO.  Tlic  cil.v  llicii  sold  mnsi  of  ilic  hiiHl  wliicli 
it  liiul  apin-opriiitcd  for  about  |:iLMMM»,00(l,  ami  I  lie  iiromid  rent  wliicli 
it  will  receive  annually  from  the  remaimlcr  will  more  tlian  pay  tlie 
interest  on  tlie  oilier  .fS,(MM),(IO(»  investment.  So  tliaf  London  1ms 
practically  (•oiiipicted  a  .f80,(K)(>,(»0(>  improvement  without  an\  expense 
to  the  tax  ])ayers. 

The  London  ("ountx'  ("onmil.  in  its  repoil  iijion  this  im](i-o\cment, 
says:  "This  result  is  most  enconra.iiin;;',  and  shows  that  the  policy  of 
allowing'  the  Council  to  ac(|uire  snilieient  propei-ly  to  enahle  it  to 
henelit  from  the  improved  \alnes  caused  hy  the  iiuprovenu-nt,  instead 
of  lea\  iui;'  the  impro\'ed  \alues  to  ad joininii  ow  ners,  is  the  hest  jiract  ical 
means  for  cari-yiniLi  out  what  is  needed  in  London." 

The  adoption  of  this  same  ]M)li(y  is  Ix'inj;  advocated  in  this  country, 
notably  in  >sew  York  and  .Massachusetts.     The  legislature  of  Ohio,  in 

1904,  at  the  solicitation  of  ("leveland.  anu'uded  its  laws 
Ohio  Law.      relati\c  to  the  ajipropriatiou  or  condemnation  n{'  properly 

liy  ]>rovidin!i  that  all  municiiial  corporations  sliall  have 
the  jtowcr  to  ai)pro]iriate,  enter  ujion,  and  iiold  i-i'al  estate  w  ithin  their 
ct»r])orate  limit,  "for  establishinii  esplanades,  boulevards,  jiarkways, 
])ark  lironnds  and  public  reservations  in,  arcmnd  and  leadinj;-  to  public 
buildiuiis  and  for  the  purjio-se  of  re-.selliuii  such  lands  with  reservations 
in  the  deeds  of  such  re-sale  as  to  the  futur<'  u.se  of  such  lands  so  as  to 
l)rotect  ])ubiic  buihliiiiis  and  their  environs,  and  to  jtreserve  tiie  view, 
appearauce,  li.nht.  air  and  usefulness  of  ](ublic  grounds  occupied  bv 
jtublic  buildinjis  and  esidanades  and  the  parkways  leadinji'  thereto." 
The  validity  (d'  this  law   has  not  yet  been  tested  in  the  courts. 

A  hnv  of  this  natni-e  in  Missouri  under  I  he  decisions  of  the  State  and 
federal  courts  wiudd,  in  our  opiniou,  lie  held  in\alid,  for  only  property 

needed  foi-  iiublic  use  can  be  taken  by  condemnation 
City  Should  ]iroceediniis,  an<l  no  property  can  lie  taken  by  the  city 

Benefit  from  for   the   ]uir|>ose  of   re-sellinii    it.     The   (piesliou    of 

Improvements.       necessity  for  public  use  is  a   jiulicial  one  which  the 

facts  in  the  case  must  determine.  The  principle,  how- 
over,  followed  in  the  wideninnof  streets  in  Liindon,  is  a  .sound  one  fr(un 
the  economic  ])oint  of  view.  If  a  nninici|iality  e.\]pends  millions  of  |)ublic 
rcNcnne  foi- an  extensive  ini]irovement  which  greatly  enhan<-es  the  \alue 
of  oouti.nuous  i>roperty,  then  the  muuicipalily  should  rea]!  at  least  a 
portion  of  the  benefits. 


Li:(;isi,ATi().\.  101 


POWER    OF    CONDEMNATION    SHOULD    BE    EXTENDED 

I'lidcr   the    pru\  isioiis   nl'    llic    cliarlci-   and    slaliilcs    w  lit-ii    in'ivute 
l(i-(>|ici-t_\'  is  s((iiglit  to  1k'  a]i|(i-(>|(i-iali'(l   Ini-  iiiuiii(i]ial   jMirposes  and  a 
just  conipeusatioii  (Ictciiniiicd   upon   liy  a   Itoard 
City's  Riffht  '^^  <'*miiiiissi()iK'rs,  liic  cil  v  can  not  lake  jiosscssioii 

to  Take  Possession      nnlil  all  (picslions  of  dainaiics  ai-c  sclllcd,  a  final 
of  Condemned  judiiincnt    icndfi-cd   and    llic   inoiicv    ]iaid    to  the 

Property.  owner.     The  i-csiill   is  I  Mat  in  many  eases  impor- 

tant pnlilic  improx'ements  are  eitlier  delayed  for 
yeai-s  or  the  city  is  forced  to  ]iay  an  exorliitant  ])riee  for  the  jiroperty 
in  order  to  ])i-c\-enl  the  tilinjj,'  of  e.\ee])tions,  ajipeals  and  <ilh('r  tedious 
et>nrt  proeeedinjis.  In  the  case,  however,  of  private  pi-operty  heinji' 
taken  for  tlie  use  of  railroads,  tlie  riylit  to  take  jiossession  of  the  i)ro])- 
erty  is  ae(piired  immediately  npon  the  ])ayinent  of  the  dainaf>es  assessed 
by  the  ( 'ommissioners,  notw  ilhstandinn  the  fact  that  either  party  may 
have  exc<'pted  to  the  value  set  hy  the  Commissioners  and  the  (pu'stion 
of  value  l)e  referred  to  a  jury  for  full  determination,  or  an  ap]»eal  he 
taken  from  the  verdict  Avhen  rendered.  This  piovision  makes  it  ]>ossihle 
(o  expedite  the  ]iuriH)se  of  condemnation  proceedings  in  fa\or  of  a 
railroad.  .V  municipality  should  certainly  have  the  same  riyht  to  take 
possession  immediately  u])on  ])ayment  of  the  assessed  (laniajics,  leavinji 
the  mere  question  of  their  ade<piacy  to  he  further  litigated.  This  would 
]iei'mil  necessary  jmblic  imjti-oxcments  to  he  made  with  the  same  expedi- 
tion which  characterizes  railroad  hnildinii  and  would  remove  one  of 
the  serious  obstruct  ions  now  in  the  way  of  the  economical  and  ex- 
peditious c(uisl riict ion  of  mnnicipal  ])ublic  works.  A  law  to  this  efTeet 
should   be  sec\ired,   if  possible,  at    the  ]iresent   sessiiui  of  the  IcLjislat  lire. 

PUBLIC    RE.SERVATION    DISTRICT 

The   ]daiis   of   the    Inner  and    ()uter    Uark    ('ommittee    imlude    the 
purchase  and  inii>ro\-enient  ol   some  .I, (1(10  acres  of  ]iark  land  and  the 
construction  ol  ukuc  than  forty  miles  (d'  park\va\' 
County  and    City       '"    >^'^-    l-ouis   County.     Accordin;;;   to   the  (hartei-, 
to  be  Benefited.  the   cit\    can    ac(|iiire   laml    beyond    its   limits   for 

public  uses  and  the  courts  have  held  that  the 
a])proi)rialion  of  pri\a(e  proi>erty  for  park  ]iiiiposes  is  manifestly  a 
puldic  use,  as  beiiu; essential  lo  the  health,  comfort  and  pros])erily  of 
the  peo}de  in  densely  pojuilated  cities.     A   dillicull_\,  however,  arises 


102  A    <ITV    I'LAX    KOK    SAINT    l.oriS. 

ill  tlic  control  of  the  jii-opcrty  in  tlic  connty  l>y  the  city.  Tlic  city 
conld  not  inivc,  cillicr  hy  i)ui-cliiis('  or  liy  Iciiislativc  enactment,  siov- 
I'rnniental  aiitliority  ovei-  lands  in  St.  I>ouis  ("onnty.  This  antliority 
conld.  liowever,  he  invested  hy  leyislation  in  a  new  oov]K)ration  eoni- 
])osed  of  rejtresentatives  of  the  city  and  county.  Fnrthi'rniore,  the 
estahlishnient  of  so  extensive  an  outer  park  system  would  he  of 
inestimahle  value  to  the  peojile  in  the  county,  hoth  hy  reason  of  the 
enhanced  value  of  real  estate  due  to  the  imiiro\-emenls  and  of  the 
inci-eased  facilities  for  jdeasure  and  recreation  which  these  ])arks  and 
drives  would  furnish.  For  that  reason  the  county  should  hear  its  due 
prop(u-ti()n  of  the  of)st  of  estahlishinj;  and  maintaining.;  an  outer  park 
system. 

In  order,  therefore,  to  have  Iciiislation  which  will  jterniit  the 
creation  of  these  larjie  outlyinji  parks  and  parkways,  to  provide  au 
eijuitahle  as.se.ssment  of  the  cost  for  estahlishinj'-  and 
Provisions  of  niaintaiuinn'  them,  and  to  insure  the  ])i'o]ier  iioxcrn- 
New  Law.  mental  control  over  these  recreation  areas  when  estah- 

lished,  we  would  recommend  the  passaji'e  of  a  law  by 
the  legislature  in  this  State  similar  to  the  ^letropolitan  Park  Act  of 
Massaclui.setts  or  the  Forest  Keserve  Act  of  Illinois. 

This  law  should  contain  the  follow  inii  i;<'ueral  jirovisions: 

1.  A  clause  enqiowerinii  the  lepii  voters  in  any  contiguous  terri- 
tory which  contains  within  its  houndaries  one  or  more  incori)orated 
cities  lyini;-  wholly  w  ithin  the  same  to  incorporate  .such  territory  as  a 
IMihlic  lieservation  District. 

1*.  A  clause  ])ermittiu.ij,'  live  jx-r  cent  of  the  leijal  voters  residinji 
within  the  limits  of  such  ])ro])ose(l  districts  to  ])etition  the  judi-c  or 
judiics  of  the  county  or  counties  imduded  in  the  proposed  district,  or 
the  municipal  assemhly  of  any  city  not  within  a  county  to  cause  the 
(|Uestion  whether  they  desire  to  have  the  territory  incorjKU-ated  as  a 
I'ulilic  lieservation  District  to  lie  suhmitted  to  the  vote  of  the  ]K'o]»le. 
If  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast  fa\dr  the  creation  of  such  a  district,  it 
shall   thenceforth   he  deemed  an  oruanized   jmldic  reservaticm  district. 

8.  A  clause  authorizinn  the  (iovernor  to  a])]»oiut  a  ISoard  of  ("oni- 
inissioners  consisting  of  a  I'resident  and  four  ( -1 1  Coniinissioners,  of 
whom  not  more  than  three  .shall  he  nieinhers  of  the  same  political  party, 
to  manage  the  atfairs  of  the  estaldished  district.  They  should  he  lei;al 
N'oiers  and  reside  within  the  district,  should  he  appointed  for  a  term 
of  four  years,  and  should  serve  without  compensation.     The  first  ( "om- 


LEGISLATION.  103 

inissioiiprs  sliould  be  appointed,  two  for  two  years  and  two  for  four 
yc-.ivs. 

4.  A  clause  yixinji  to  tlic  <  "oumiissioners  power  to  iijiiHiini  and  tix 
the  salaries  of  a  Secretary  and  a  Treasurer  and  snrh  otlier  employes 
and  lahoi-ers  as  may  be  deemed  necessary  to  protect  and  maintain  the 
reservation  areas;  and  to  i)ass  all  necessary  rules  and  regulations  f(»r 
the  j)ro]K'r  nianai;emeut  and  conduct  of  the  business  of  the  l>()ard  an<i 
for  carryiiii;-  into  effect  tlie  olijecr  for  which  siicli  pnlilir  reser\atiou 
(lisfricr  is  formed. 

.").  A  clause  jtivinp;  to  the  IJoard  of  ( 'ommissioners  j)ower  to  acquire, 
maintain  and  make  availalile  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  disfri<-t  open 
spaces  and  woodhmd  for  exercise  and  i-ecreation; 
Powers  of  Board.  '^"  '".^  **^^^'  establish,  open,  widen,  improve  and 
maintain  liis;hways  \\ithin  the  district  as  public 
driveways  and  boidevards;  to  re.uuhtte,  restrain  and  contnd  the  kind 
and  sjieed  of  tra\cl  <>t\  smli  driveways;  to  enijiloy  a  suitable  pcdice 
forc<' ;  and,  in  iieneral,  to  do  all  acts  needful  for  the  jiroper  exei-ution 
of  the  powers  and  duties  granted  to  the  IJoard. 

Ct.  A  clause  s'ivins  to  the  IJoard  the  jiower  to  accpiire  by  ^nift.  irrant 
or  jiincliasc.  or  by  c(uideinnatioii  any  land  necessai-y  for  carryinii'  out 
the  purposes  for  which  the  district  was  or-ianized  ;  tlie  power  to  petition 
the  courts  prayini;  for  the  appointment  of  tiiree  or  five  Cfunmissioners 
to  ascertain  the  actual  \alue  of  the  land  to  be  taken,  the  damaiies  to 
the  property  caused  ilieicby,  and  to  dclerniine  the  amounts  which 
should  be  assessed  ajiainst  property  or  the  municipalities  as  benefits 
resultiuin'  from  the  improvements;  and  the  ri^ht  to  take  possession  of 
till'  pro])erty  immediately  upon  payment  of  the  ilamayes  assessed  by 
till'  <  ■(immis'sioners. 

7.  To  meet  the  exjjeuses  incurred  in  acquirins;  land,  establishinii;. 
protectinii  and  maintainini;  such  recreation  areas  the  Hoard  should 
lie  empowered  to  lioi-fow  mone\'  on  the  credit  of  the  district  and  issue 
bonds  therefoi-  to  all  amouni  not  to  exce<'d  onedialf  (  '  i>  I  of  one  ill 
per  cent  of  the  a,ii.iirei;ate  assessed  valuatiiui  of  the  jtrojterty  within 
the  district;  and  to  le\\-  a  iieneral  i)ro]>erty  tax  in  the  same  manner  as 
taxes  are  now  le\  led  for  cit\  purposes  to  an  amount  not  to  excee<l  two 
(2i  mills  on  cacli  dcdiarof  the  ajigrcfiate  assessed  valuation  i>\'  |ii-operty 
within  the  district. 

We  iiave  not  attempted  to  jiresi'ut  in  this  re]i(Ut  the  detailed  torm 
of  such  a  law .     This  sliouhl  be  drafted  with  "Teat  care  in  order  to  ntake 


104  A    CITY    I'l.A.N     FOU    SAl.NT    KOt  IS. 

the  work  of  the  I'oard  of  < 'oiiiiiiissioncis  most  cftVctivc  and  al  tlio 
same  time  to  protect  fully  llic  i-iiilits  of  tlic  ]ico]iIc  in  cyvry  ](ortioii  of 
tlic  IMiblio  Kcscrvatiou  District. 

BOARD    OF    PARK    COMMISSIONERS    FOR    SAINT    LOUIS 

Tlic  I'ark  ( "oiniiiittcc  also  rccoiiinicMils  cxiciisivc  jtarkwavs  wiihiii 
(lie  city  for  I  lie  ]iui-]iosc  of  tyiiiii'  toiicliicr  and   niakinji  acc('ssil)lc  our 

lircscnt  larjic  jtark  areas.  In  \  icw  of  tlic  fai-t  that 
Park  Control  Kininsliiiiliway  is  soon  lo  he  cstaldisiicd  as  a  lioiilc\ard 
Unified.  under  llie  su])er\ision  (d'  the  Street    De|iartineid,  that 

the  Sewer  Dcparlinent  is  workinii  on  tlie  ])lans  for  tlie 
ini])ro\enient  (d'  the  Ifiver  DesTeres  N'aliey,  and  that  a  numher  of  small 
parks  are  to  he  purchased  and  jiiit  under  the  Joint  su]ier\ision  of  the 
Dark  l)e])artmc'nt  and  the  I'uhlic  Daths  ( "onimi.ssion,  a  charter  amend- 
ment should,  if  pdssihle,  he  se<-ured  by  which  the  control  of  all  jiarks, 
jiarkways,  public  squari's  and  i)lay.urouiuls  shall  be  ])laced  where  it 
loiiically  beloni;s — under  the  Dark  Department  of  the  ('ity  ( lovernment. 
In  order  to  have  the  departnieid  ii'present  the  needs  of  every  section 
and  all  interests  of  the  city  we  would  suiiiicst  a  law  similar  to  the  one 
sectiicd  in  Kansas  City  in  IS!)."),  and  under  which  she  has  been  enabled 
to  construct  and  maintain  her  admirable  park  system. 

The  general  provisions  of  that  law  are:  1.  The  city  is  divided 
into  live  park  districts  and  a  Hoard  of  Dark  ( "(unmissiouers,  consistiuii' 
of  five  members,  is  a])]iointed  by  the  .Mayor. 

2.  The  ( 'omnnssiouers  are  ap]Miiiiled  foi-  four  years,  ser\e  w  itlnuit 
compensation  and  no  more  than  three  can  be  mendiers  (d'  any  one 
p(ditical  ]»arty.  Any  (Uie  of  them  is  held  to  ha\e  xacated  his  oftice  in 
the  e\ent  of  havinn  acce]ded  a  noniinalion  or  an  ajipoint  iiieid  to  any 
political  ottice. 

3.  The  j^eneral  ](owers  (d'  the  Hoard  are:  {m  To  appidnt  a  sal- 
aried secretary  and  to  employ  the  ser\ices  (d'  a  sui>er\isin!n  landscape 

architect,  and  such  enjiineers,  sujierintendents,  clerks 
Powers  of  the  'ii'*!  employes  as  is  deemed  necessar.v  to  construct  and 
Park  Board.         maintain  the  iiark  system.      {!>)     To  devise  and  adojd 

a  system  id'  ])ublic  parks  and  ])arkways,  to  select  and 
desi<i;nate  lands  to  be  used  and  ajfju-opriated  for  such  purposes,  to 
select  routes  and  streets  for  boulevards  and  ])arkways  and  cause  the 
same  to  be  widened  and  restricted.      ( /•  l     To  b^ase,  purchase,  coinlemn 


LEGISLATION.  105 

or  ()tlici-\\  isc  ;i((|nir('  in  tlip  iianic  of  tlic  citv,  aiul  with  the  ai)i)rovaI 
of  the  .Miiiiiciiial  Asscinliiy,  land  for  parks,  ])ark\vays,  Itonlcvanls  or 
pnlilic  s(|nar(*s,  and  to  iini)rov(',  maintain,  snpcrinlcnd  and  contrcd  llic 
sanio. 

4.  Provision  is  made  for  flic  assessment  of  Itenefits  and  daniajres 
in  file  enlire  ])ark  district  in  which  the  jiark  or  ])ark\vay  is  estai)lished. 

.").  Payments  for  the  land  selected  or  acfpiired  and  funds  for  the 
im])ro\cment,  maintenance  and  control  of  the  |iark  system  are  ])rovide(l 
for  ont  of  the  general  fnnds  of  the  city  or  hy  issne  and  sale  of  bonds 
as  dii-ected  by  the  charter. 

A  iSoai'd  of  ( 'ommissionei's  consisting  of  i-cprcsenlati\c  citizens 
sei'vini;'  \\ithont  compensation  will  insure  an  (Mpiitahle  division  of  i)ark 
area  for  the  different  sections  of  the  city  and  a  non-partisan  ami 
ajro-ressi \'e  administration  of  the  I'ark  I  )e]iartiiient  of  the  city  i^ov- 
ernment. 

The  report  of  the  .Mnnicipal  Art  <'ommittee  has  pointed  ont  the 
need  of  an  art  commission  to  snpervise  the  ]danninii.  location  and 
constrnction  of  public  bnildin^s  and  other  mu- 
Municipal  nicipal    strnctnres.     It    has   also   stated    The    le^al 

Art  Commission,  diflicnlties  in  the  way  of  creatini;'  an  effect ixc  art 
commission.  I'nder  the  charter  of  the  city  of  !^t. 
Louis  the  Board  of  Public  Improvements  is  invested  with  full  authority 
in  nmtters  relatinsi  to  ]mblic  works,  and  the  only  way  in  which  a 
nnuiici])al  art  commission  can  be  i;i\-en  anytbini.;'  nioi-e  tiian  the  mere 
semblance  of  authority  in  the  location,  re-location,  or  alteration  of 
public  structures  and  works  of  art  is  by  charter  amendment. 

This,  however,  is  only  one  of  the  numerous  recommendations  which 
will  re(iuire  charter  amendments  in  or<ler  to  make  it  feasible  to  carry 
out  the  sugijestions  with  any  degree  of  ex]iedition 
Charter  Revision,  and  at  a  reasonable  cost  to  the  city.  I'or  exani]ile, 
the  lionlevard  Act,  which  is  cundirous  and  slow, 
needs  entire  revision.  In  the  establishment  and  opening  id'  bonle\ar(ls 
and  jtarks,  benefits  should  be  assessed  not  onl_\-  against  the  ])i-operty 
abutting  on  the  highway,  but  also  against  pi-ojterty  in  the  lienelited 
district.  The  city  should  have  the  ])ower  to  plant  trees  on  the  streets 
and  highways  and  assess  the  cost  as  a  s](ecial  tax  against  the  abutting 
projx'rty.  The  Street  Department  should  haxc  better  control  over  the 
opening  and  plotting  t»f  new  streets.  All  of  these  illustrations  point 
to  the  need  for  a  complete  charier  revision  which  woidd  aid  materially 


106  A    CITY     i'l-AN     I'di:    SAINT    I.OIIS. 

in  rcalizinji'  iiiaiiv  of  tlic  iiiipi'dvcniciits  suftf;;(\st('(l  in  tlic  CWy  rian 
R('])()rt. 

Tile  I'ccoiniiiciKlations  of  the  Outer  and  Inner  Park  Couiniittec  con- 
lain  tlie  su};s'e«tions  that  tiie  Marine  Hosi>ital  site  be  secured  by  the 
cit.v  for  i)arlv  i>nrposes  and  tliat  JetVerson  Uarracks  Reservation  be 
oixMicd  as  a  National  Park. 

The  Marine  Hospital  site,  containinj;  some  tifteen  acres  of  land  and 
four  oi-  live  buildings,  is  now  being  used  as  a  hospital  for  the  care  of 
river  men  and  sailors.  A  year  ago  the  Tn-a.sury 
Marine  Hospital  De])artment  .seriously  considered  the  advi.sability 
Site.  of  discontinuing  the  use  of  these  buildings  for  lio.s- 

pital  purposes,  and  went  so  far  as  to  solicit  bids  for 
the  care  of  the  few  patients  who  here  avail  themselves  of  the  (Jovern- 
nient's  protection  in  time  of  sickness.  We  would  r('connnen<l  that  an 
ett'ort  be  made  to  .secure  a  .satisfactory  arrangement  between  the  Fed- 
eral (iovernnu'Ut  and  the  city,  whereby  the  (lovernnient  patients  can 
be  cared  for  in  the  city  hospitals  in  exchange  for  this  area  of  s])lendid 
park  land  overlooking  the  ^Ii.ssissi])])i  River. 

•Jetferson  Harracks  Reservation,  containing  l,l!0(l  acres  of  river- 
front land,  is  being  utilized  less  and  less  as  an  army  i)ost,  the  large 
powder  magazines  have  been  removed  from  the 
Jefferson  Barracks  xvooded  area  along  the  river-front,  a  considerable 
As  National  Park.  })ortion  of  the  reservation  is  undeveloped,  and  the 
indications  are  that  the  War  DepartnuMit  will  in 
the  future  nuike  the  barracks  little  more  than  a  recruiting  .station. 
Wliile  it  is  not  at  all  jirobable  that  the  (iovei-nmeiit  \\'ould  consider  the 
dis])osal  of  this  splendid  natural  ]iark  area.  Congress  might  be  induced 
to  f(dlow  precedents  and  open  and  impi-ove  it  as  a  national  ])ark. 
We  would  therefore  recommend  that  a  committee  be  ai»pointed  by 
the  League  to  investigate  more  fully  this  ((uestion  and  if  possible 
.secure  co-o])eration  of  tlie  members  of  Congress  from  Missoui'i  in  indm-- 
ing  the  I'ederal  (iovernment  to  make  this  resei-vation  a  recreation  area 
for  the  benetit  and  welfare  of  the  ]ieo|)le  of  St.   jjouis. 

Your  committee  has  not  attempted  in  this  rejiort  to  ]iresent  the 
drafts  of  the  laws  recommended,  nor  to  suggest  all  of  tlu'  legislation 
necessary  to  permit  St.  Louis  to  carry  out  with  ex])edition  and  proper 
precaution  a  comprehensive  plan  of  public  improvements.  \\'e  have 
ontliiu'd  only  those  more  important  laws  which  are  at  the  basis  of  any 
[)rogressive  scheme  for  improving  the  appearance  of  this  city,  an<l  we 


m:(;is[,ati().\.  107 

recommend  that  steps  be  taken  to  have  introduced  and  i)assed  by  the 
present  session  of  tlie  LejiislatUT-e  of  tliis  State  such  laws  as  tliis  re])ort 
suj^jj;ests  should  be  ])assc(l  i»_v  that  body  to  make  i»ossii)k'  the  iiiii>i-ove- 
ments  recommended  by  the  reports  of  your  committees. 

LEGISLATION    COMMITTEE. 
JoHX  F.  Lee.  Chairman. 

J.   LlONBERGEK   DaVIS.  B.     SCH.MKM ACHKR. 

ClIAULEiS    NacKI,.  LCTHEIt     El.Y     S-MITII, 

R.  F.  Walkek. 


The  Civic  League  of  St.  Louis 


OBJECTS 

The  Civic  Leafrue  of  St.  Louis  is  an  independent,  non-partisan  association 
designed  to  unite  the  efforts  of  all  citizens  who  are  seeking  to  improve  nni- 
nicii)al  conditions  in  this  city.  Its  general  purposes  are:  To  create  public 
sentiment  in  favor  of  a  better  administration  nf  public  afTairs  :  to  crystallize 
enlightened  jjuhlic  sentiment  into  action  :  to  labor  for  the  enactment  and  strict 
enforcement  of  laws  wiiicii  will  make  the  city  more  healthful,  comfortable  and 
attractive,  and  to  serve  as  a  P.ureau  of  Civic  Information  to  the  citizens  of 
St.  Louis. 

OFFICERS  FOR  1906 

President 

Henrv  T.  Kknt 

Vice-Presidents 

F.    X.   JUDSO.N' 


T.   S.   McPlIEETERS 

Robert  Moore 


HcMiry  T.  Kent 
Dwight  F.  Davis 
J.   I,.  Hornsby 
J.  Lawrence  ^Iaura 
Charles  A.  Stix 


Nagcl  &  Kirby 


ClI.\KLES    N.AGEL 

Treasurer 
N.  A.  Mc.MiLL,\N 
Secretary 
M.wo  Fesler,  Security   Building 
Executive  Board 
Gouverneur  Callioun 
Edward  C.  Eliot 
T.  S.  McPhceters 
Saunders  Xorvell 
B.  J.  Taussig 

Counsel 
Sclinurinachcr  &  Kassicur 


Edw.  .M.m.i.i.vckrodt 


Ur.  .M.  B.  Clopton 
J.  H.  Gundlach 
N.  .Ji.  .McMillan 
Charles  Rebstock 
Fred  G.  Zcibis 


Luther  Ely  Smith 


E.  L.  Adreon 
W.  K.  Bixby 
.\dolphus  Huscli 
Pierre  Chouteau 
C.  C.  Crone 
George  F.  Duraiit 
Mrs.  John  Fowler 
George  C.  Hitchcock 
Chas.  H.  Huttig 
Homer  P.  Knapp 
)ohn  E.  McKinney 
Elias  Michael 
Leo  Rassienr 
.M.  Schoenljerg 
.Mrs.  Edward  Taussig 
Bishop  Dan'l  Tuttle 


Honorary  Auditors 

Jones-Caesar.  Dickinson,  Wilmot  &  Co. 

Advisory  Counsel 

Cliflford  B.  Allen 
Robert  S.  Brookings 
.Mrs.  Geo.  C).  Carpenter 
Hanford  Crawford 
Frank  P.  Crundcn 
B.  F.  Edwards 
.\rchbishop  J.  J.  Gkiincin 
Dr.  George  Homan 
Wni.  B.  Ittner 
Mrs.  L.  .M.  McCall 
.Mrs.  T.  H.  McKittrick 
Dan  C.  Xugent 
John  H.  Roth 
F.  C.  Sinunons 
\V.  P.  H.  Turner 
Lambert  E.  U'altlier 


Edmund  H.  Wuerpel 
Thekla  M.  Bernays 
.\.  D.  Brown 
Daniel  Catlin 
Gustav  Cramer 
Rev    John  \V.  Dav 
.Mrs.  \V.  E.  Fisch'cl 
H.  T.  Hafner 
Clarence  H.  Howard 
Otto  F.  Karbe 
Robert  McCulloch 
Mrs.  Philip  X.  Moore 
>frs.  E.  W.  Pattison 
Walter  L.  Sheldon 
Will.  Trelease 
Henrv  Wood 


110 


A    CITY    I'l.AX     |-(tl!    SAIXI'    I.OIIS. 


COMMITTEES  FOR  1906 


J.  II.  GuNDLACii,  Cliairniaii 
Joseph  D.  Barroll 
Thomas  D.  Canmm 
C.  C.  Crone 


CiiAS.  A.  Stix,  Chairman 
Hanlcircl  Crawford 


Membership 

F.rnest  Filsinger 

A.  H.  Foote 
Otto  G.  Koenig 
Farle  Layman 
Louis  La  Bcaunie 

Press  and  PubJications 

B.  F.  Kil wards 
J.  K.  Smith 


JosKiMi  L.  HtJRNSHV,  Chairman 
Glcndy  B.  Arnold 
\Y.  Palmer  Clarkson 
J.  H.  Gnmllach 


Legislation 

().   F.  Karbe 

T.  S.  McPheeters.  Jr. 

L   L  O'Connor 

J.   !•.  O.   Reller 

Smoke  Abatement 


Oscar  L.  Wuitklaw,  Chairman    Grant  Beehe 


Wm.  H.  Bryan 


V.  N.  Juij.so.x,  Chairman 
Dr.  George  Homan 


J.  Hai.  Lv.Ncii,   Chairman 
Dr.  H.  W.  Bartscher 


Wm.  Chauvcnel 
Charter  Revision 


Ldward  C. 
Charles  W. 


F:iiot 

Knapp 


Public  Sanitation 

I'liilip  C.  Scanlan 

Dr.  Joseph  Spiegclhalter 

Tree  Planting 


Dr.  Seldk.n  Si'icNtKK,  Chairman  (I.  .M  .  lloKerty 


Leo  C.  Dziatzko 
Dr.  H.  A.  Geitz 


I'iKRRK  CiioLTKAU,  Chairman 
Joseph   Boyce 
Mary  Louise  Dalton 


Fra.N'CIS  G.  Eaton,  Cliairman 
Dr.  Louis  Behrens 
C.  R.  Blickhahn 


M.  C.  Irish 
Charles  RebstocU 

Historic  Spots 

Dr.  Edward  Evers 
V.  .Mott  Porter 
!•:.  J.  Rns.sell 

Tuberculosis  Prevention 

■Ashlev  Cabell 
J.  W.  Lambert 
Dr.  .Albert  Merrell 


Ernest  J.  Russell,  Chairman 

R.  N.  Baldwin 

Geo.  Oliver  Carpenter,  Jr. 

J.  L.Van  Grnl'.m,  Chairman 
Joseph  D.  Baseom 

Eleemosynary  Institutions 

Dr.  M.  B.  Clopton,  Chairman       E.  M.  Grossman 

W.  S.  Eames  Dr.  RobertLuedeking 

Dr.  John  Green,  Jr. 


Housing  Committee 

J.  Lionberger  Davis 
.A.  O.  Lovejoy 

Street  Lighting 

Treseott  F".  Chaplin 
.A.  S.  Langsdorf 


L.  L.  Liio.NARii.  Chairman 
Daniel  N.  Kirby 


W.  Banks  Rogers 

Signs  and  Billboards 

John  H.   Kotli 
Robert  Rutledge 


Geo.  W.    l.nbke 
II.   II.  OI)ershelp 
Charles  P.  Pettus 
A.  H.  Riehardson 


Cieo.  .\1.  Wright 
M .  Shoenberg 


1^.  J.  .Speneer 
L.  E.  Walther 
V.  C.  Zeibig 


J.  B.  Conroy 
R.  H.  Female 


Robert  Moore 
Geo.  D.  Markham 


John   1 1 .  Terry 


W.  J.   Sle\ens 
l'"rank  .\.  Weber 


Walter  R.  Smith 
Marshall  S.  Snow 


Dr.  H.  G.  Nicks 
Dr.  Wm.  J.  Porter 


Charlotte  .\1.   Rmubold 
.Albert  T.  Terrv 


Arthur  Thacher 
E.  L.  .Adreon 


O'Neill  Ryan 

Dr.  Sidnev  I.  Schwab 

Robert  F.' Walker 


Louis  Spiering 
Frederick  H  .  .Mann 


INDEX 


i'.\r,F. 

Algiers,  Wnter  Front 74 

Art,  Municipal 88 

Oeniaiul  for 8!l 

1  n    European   Cities S)() 

In   American  Cities 

Baths,  Public 42,  M 

Berlin 3") 

Bissell's  Point 4") 

Board  — 

of   Park  Commissioners 104 

of  Public   Reservation  Commissioners 102,103 

Bond  Issue S.  !•" 

Boston,  Park   System 13 

Boulevards — 

Kingshighway ol-(i2 

Des  Peres 62, 63 

Goodfellow  04 

To  Union  Station 77 

Bridge,   Eads 73 

Proposed 73 

Buildings,   Public 30 

Carr  Park 44 

Chain  of  Rocks l)(i 

Charbonicr  Bluflfs 60 

Charter  Revision 105 

Chicago 12 

City  Hall 32,  33 

City  Plan- 
Scope  of 7 

Objects  of 8 

Civic  League,  The  — 

Officers  of 108 

Objects  of 108 

Centers,  Civic 37-53 

Tenth  and  Carr 42 

At  Carr  Park 45 

Soulard 47 

Ninth  and  Ann 49 

Clayton 65 

Cleveland 12 

Commissions — 

Public   Buildings 31 

Street  Railway 86 

Commission,   Municipal   Art 88-94.   105 

Commons,  St.  l.ouis IS 

Common  Fields IS 

Condemnation.  Powers  of 101 

Con<luits SJ 


112  A     (ITV     I'l.AN     Kill!     SAINT     I.OIIS. 

PAGE 

Creve  Coeur (i? 

Des  Peres,   River — 

Drainage  of 62 

Boulevard 62,  63 

Fair  Grouiuls 5!) 

Group,   Public  Buildings 30-36 

Plan  N'o.   1 31 

Plan  No.  2 32 

In  American  Cities 35 

In   European  Cities 35 

Highways,  in  County C7.  68 

Jefferson  Barracks (i3,  67,   106 

Kansas  City 13 

Kingshiglnvay 55-59 

Kirkwood 65 

Lectures,  Public 43 

Legislation 95-108 

Libraries 48,  52 

Locust  Street 75 

London <J9 

Marine  Hospital (iO.  106 

Meramec  Highlands 07 

New  York 12,  91 

Moscow 35 

Paris 35 

Parks,   St.  Louis — 

Distribution  of 3il 

History  of 28 

Board  of  Commissioners 104 

Lafayette 50 

Lyon 49 

Laclede : 51 

Carondelet 51 

Hyde 78 

O"  Fallon 58 

Forest 57 

Tower  Grove 57 

Total  .\rea 54 

Parks,  Outer 0."i.  66 

Place,  St.  Louis 46 

Carnegie 50 

Playgrounds 41,  51 

.\I  ullanphy 45 

Bissell's  Point 46 

Poles,  Telegraph 82 

Reservations,   Public 06,  67 

Legislation   for 101 ,  102 

River  Front — 

Importance  of 72 

Improvement  of 73 

In   European  Cities 74 

Riverside  Drive 59 


INDEX.  113 

St.    Louis —  I'AGE 

History  of 15-29 

Limits  of 25,  2C,  27 

Founding  of 16 

Under  Spanish   Rule 19 

Incorporated  as  a  Town 20 

I ncorporated  as  a  City 22 

Need  of  a  City  Plan ■ 13 

San  Francisco 12 

Schools.  Vacation 43 

Schools,  St.  Louis 40 

Soulard  Market 47 

Streets — 

Naming  of 24 

Width  of SI 

Locust 75 

Chestnut 76,  77 

Twelfth 76 

Railways 84.  85,  86 

Suburban  Railway 65 

Thoroughfares 65 

Taxation 96 

Telegraph   Road 63 

Tree  Planting 81 

Triangles 79 

Union  Station 77 

Vienna 35 

Washington 13 

Webster  Groves 65 

Wires,  Telegraph 82 


press  of 

TII!loo^wal:^  5.  Pieman  pcintin<]  Co. 

5t.  louls 


